Nanjing Zhonghua Gate

Nanjing Zhonghua Gate

Nanjing Zhonghua Gate is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Nanjing Zhonghua Gate, anciently known as Jubao Gate, is the largest castle-style gate among the 13 city gates of the Nanjing City Wall. It is the best-preserved and most structurally complex ancient fortress in the world today, and a treasure of ancient Chinese fortification construction. The architectural form of Zhonghua Gate resembles a jar, specifically designed to defend against enemy attacks. The barbican project is grand and structurally complex, with the fortress divided into two levels, four layers of gates, and 27 troop-hiding caves capable of holding 3,000 soldiers. It is the largest barbican in China and now houses a historical exhibition room dedicated to the barbican.

The scale of the Nanjing Ancient City Wall is the largest in the world and is a masterpiece in the history of ancient Chinese architecture. Zhonghua Gate was built between the 26th year of the Yuan Dynasty's Zhi Zheng era (1366) and the 19th year of the Hongwu era (1386). Legend has it that during its construction, a “sea eye” was encountered, causing the structure to collapse repeatedly. Later, the “treasure box” of Shen Wansan, the wealthiest man in southern China at the time, was “borrowed” and buried there to complete the project successfully, hence it was also named Jubao Gate.

The entire structure of Zhonghua Gate is made extremely solid using a mixture of lime, tung oil, and glutinous rice juice as an adhesive to build massive bricks. To its south, Yuhuatai serves as a natural barrier, and the gate is flanked by two branches of the Qinhuai River running east-west. It faces Changqian Bridge in the front and leans on Zhenhuai Bridge in the back. The terrain is strategically perilous, making it a vital transportation hub in the southern part of the city.

Zhonghua Gate features ingenious construction, with three layers of barbicans, four gate arches, 27 troop-hiding caves, two ramparts for ascending the wall, and one horse path. The uppermost level is equipped with a double-eaved, hip-and-gable roof watchtower for reconnaissance. The troop-hiding caves could conceal soldiers and store supplies, with the 27 caves together capable of holding over 3,000 troops—truly an innovative military facility of ancient times. Each gate arch is outfitted with a heavy portcullis; even if enemy forces breach the gate, dropping the portcullis would trap them inside, allowing ambushing troops to emerge and create a “turtle in a jar” scenario.

The fortress is 118.5 meters wide from east to west and 128 meters long from north to south, covering an area of about 15,000 square meters. It features a clever design and an intact structure, including three barbicans, four archways, with the first gate standing 21.45 meters high. Each gate originally had double wooden doors and a vertically operable portcullis. Inside are 27 troop-hiding caves used for storing military supplies and hiding soldiers during wartime. The steep and expansive horse paths on the east and west sides were used to transport supplies, and commanders could ride their horses directly up to the top of the wall.

In 1995, in conjunction with the renovation of Zhonghua Road and Yuhua Road, Zhonghua Gate Plaza was built around the Zhonghua Gate Fortress, adding nearly 10,000 square meters of green space and installing a number of tall ornamental lanterns and lawn lights. The construction of the plaza and Zhenhuai East and West Bridges not only improved traffic conditions but also beautified the external environment of the fortress, making it appear even more majestic. The fortress and plaza are integrated, complementing each other beautifully.

Zhonghua Gate is grand in architecture, complex in structure, and ingenious in design, showing remarkable craftsmanship. Its construction took 21 years. The bricks used to build the wall are each about 40-50 cm long, 20 cm wide, and 10 cm thick, weighing 15-20 kg each. Producing such heavy bricks posed significant technical challenges. The production of these bricks was undertaken by 125 counties across 5 provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River—including Nanjing’s Construction Ministry, the imperial garrison, and the regions of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu—before being transported to Nanjing via waterways.

To ensure the quality of the bricks, a strict inspection system was enforced. Each brick was stamped on the side with the name of the craftsman and supervisor. Any substandard products led to immediate accountability. As a result, the bricks are dense, solid, and have remained intact after six centuries of weathering—testament to the immense labor contributed by the people along the river in constructing this magnificent capital.

Before the 1980s, Zhonghua Gate Fortress had long been abandoned and neglected. After officially opening in 1980, under the leadership and planning of organizations such as the National Tourism Administration, the Nanjing Cultural Relics Management Committee, the Bureau of Gardens, and the Qinhuai District People’s Government, the site was developed through a method of gradual opening, repair, and internal enhancement. Successive additions included the Zhonghua Gate Historical Exhibition Room and a Bonsai Garden. This also involved relocating residents, shops, and factories around the fortress, clearing away large amounts of accumulated earth and debris, comprehensively renovating the northern second-floor walls, and focusing on greening and beautifying the environment. To date, except for the watchtower and winding mechanism pavilion, the ancient fortress has largely been restored to its original appearance.

Address: Between Zhonghua West Gate and Zhonghua East Gate, Qinhuai District, Nanjing

Type: Historic Site / Fortress

Recommended Visit Duration: 1–2 hours

Phone: 025-52311613

Opening Hours:

8:30-20:30