Ruins of the Ming Imperial Palace in Nanjing

Ruins of the Ming Imperial Palace in Nanjing

The Ruins of the Ming Imperial Palace in Nanjing are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ming Imperial Palace in Nanjing served as the blueprint for the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was the imperial palace of the first unified dynasty in Nanjing’s history and is located on both sides of Zhongshan East Road today. After capturing Jiqing (Nanjing), the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang renamed it Yingtian Prefecture. In his quest to become emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang ultimately chose this feng shui treasure land described as “a dragon coiling around the Zhong Hill” and “a residence fit for an emperor.” Legend has it that Zhu Yuanzhang mobilized 200,000 soldiers, civilians, and craftsmen to fill in Yanque Lake and “rebuild the new city.” The project began in 1366 AD and was completed in one year. The magnificent and imposing palace flourished for a time. This palace of Zhu Yuanzhang consisted of two parts: the Imperial City and the Palace City, collectively referred to as the Imperial Palace. The Imperial City was on the outside, enclosing the Palace City.

“The west wind fades the sunset glow, / Over the ancient palace wall.” Standing on the ruins of the Ming Imperial Palace and looking around, you’ll find the surroundings vast and open, with distant green mountains veiled in mist. Reflecting on the grand palaces of the early Ming Dynasty, only these eight words can capture the desolate atmosphere of the site. Some say the most captivating aspect of the Nanjing Ming Imperial Palace ruins is its mystery. No one today has seen the once-magnificent architecture, and historians don’t even have a detailed blueprint of the palace—only a rough idea of its layout can be inferred.

After capturing Jiqing (Nanjing), the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang “ordered Liu Ji and others to select the site and determine the location for the new palace,” eventually choosing this feng shui treasure land described as “a dragon coiling around the Zhong Hill” and “a residence fit for an emperor.” Legend has it that Zhu Yuanzhang mobilized 200,000 soldiers, civilians, and craftsmen to fill in Yanque Lake and “rebuild the new city.” The city stretched five li from north to south and four li from east to west, standing magnificent and imposing, flourishing for a time.

The Jingnan Rebellion by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, resulted in the burning of halls such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony. After the capital was moved, the Ming Imperial Palace in Nanjing gradually fell into neglect. Over the following centuries, wind and rain caused severe natural damage. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, even the Hall of Golden Chimes had vanished. When Emperor Kangxi made his first southern tour, the Ming Imperial Palace had “no palaces left standing,” and was quite desolate. The Taiping Rebellion caused further significant destruction to the palace. Aside from the underground stone foundation components, only broken walls, scattered tiles, and ruins frequented by snakes and rats remained. In 1929, to welcome the burial of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s remains at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Zhongshan East Road and Yixian Bridge were newly built, dividing the Ming Imperial Palace ruins into northern and southern sections. Only a few remnants such as the Meridian Gate and underground column bases remain.

After the liberation, about 350 stone column bases were buried on-site for protection, placed along the central axis and its sides on the north side of the road. Approximately 600,000 square meters of the ruins on the north side of Zhongshan East Road were designated as a training ground for the Nanjing Military Command for preservation. Additionally, stone carvings looted by the British and taken to Yangtze Hotel in Xiaguan were returned to the site and restored.

Today, the Ming Imperial Palace Ruins Park not only features a large number of exquisite stone carvings that allow visitors to imagine the former glory of the palace, but also the recently restored Donghua Gate and Xi’an Gate Ruins Parks, which offer a glimpse into the majestic aura of the early Ming Dynasty.

Address: Both sides of Zhongshan East Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing

Type: Urban park & historical site

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 025-84807135

Opening hours:

6:30-22:00

Ticket information:

Free admission.

Nanhang Community: Located to the north of Ruijin Road Subdistrict, south of Zhongshan East Road, and extending westward from No. 8 Lifu Street to Jiefang South Road, the community covers a total area of 0.62 square kilometers. It primarily consists of residential areas for employees of four major institutions: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Factory 511, Factory 714, and Institute 55. The community has 3,321 households and a population of 32,067. … More details about Nanhang Community++

Further reading:

· First and second batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units