The Main Southern Gate of Nanxiong Prefectural City

The Main Southern Gate of Nanxiong Prefectural City

The Main Southern Gate of Nanxiong Prefectural City is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Song–Qing Dynasties, Nanxiong

The Main Southern Gate of Nanxiong Prefectural City is located on Zhongshan Street, Xiongzhou Town, Nanxiong City. The city wall was originally built in the fourth year of the Huangyou era of the Song Dynasty (1052), and has been repaired through successive dynasties. It features walls made of blue bricks of varying sizes laid atop a foundation of granite blocks. The gatehouse has a total height of 14.5 meters, a depth of 17.35 meters, a width of 18.7 meters on the southern side, and 20.2 meters on the northern side. A 1-meter-wide stone staircase is located on the western side for access. The city gate itself is 3.9 meters high and 4 meters wide, with watchtowers on both outer sides, each 4 meters wide and 9.5 meters tall. The overall layout is concave-shaped. In the thirteenth year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1808), the Nanxun Pavilion was built atop the gate. It features a double-eaved roof with suspended gables covered in clay tiles, a floor plan five bays wide (17.85 meters) and 17.15 meters deep, with corridors on the southern and northern sides. The structure uses a post-and-lintel beam system.

In 1982, the Nanxiong Municipal People's Government designated it as a cultural relic protection unit. On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units