Huanlei Gate

　　Huanlei Gate — Huanlei Gate faces due east and is commonly known as the East Gate. The East Gate consists of two parts: the city gate and the gate tower. The lower level is the gate, and the upper level is the tower. The gate has a brick-and-stone archway and thick fir plank doors. The archway is one zhang deep and nine chi high, with two high-quality fir doors, each five cun thick and weighing about 250 kilograms, making them very sturdy. The gate tower is built atop the city gate, measuring one zhang five chi in both width and depth, and two zhang in height. In the old days, when people climbed the tower and looked east, they could see the masts and sails of merchant ships on the river, bustling streets and alleys within the city, and a thriving scene of merchants and markets.

　　In the spring of the 19th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty, Magistrate Su Zhaoyang led subordinate officials and local dignitaries and gentry to hold a grand foundation-laying ceremony for the East Gate. At that time, the breeze was mild, and the sky was clear, with countless villagers from surrounding villages and towns in attendance. Just as the foundation-laying ceremony was about to begin, suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder shook the earth, stunning everyone. A trace of astonishment also appeared on Magistrate Su Zhaoyang’s face, but he quickly composed himself. He looked up at the blue sky and proclaimed loudly, “Look, even Heaven has come to celebrate our ceremony.” The sky remained as blue as ever, and the sunlight as bright. Su Zhaoyang’s words pulled the stunned crowd back from their fright. Those present blurted out, “A joyous thunder—this is a joyous thunder!” Su Zhaoyang said that upon the completion of this East Gate, it would be named “Huanlei Gate” (Joyous Thunder Gate). Amid the cheers of the many officials, gentry, and villagers, Magistrate Su Zhaoyang joyfully wielded his brush and wrote the powerful and bold characters for “Huanlei Gate.” From then on, the East Gate was called “Huanlei Gate,” also known as “Su’s Joyous Thunder.”

　　The gate tower above Huanlei Gate is called “Jiuri Tower” (Sunward Tower). It was built after the construction of the gate, facing due east. With the sunrise in the east, climbing the tower allows one to watch the sunrise, symbolizing the rising momentum of the morning sun, as well as the prosperity and flourishing of the nation, and a life of abundance. Jiuri Tower gets its name from this meaning. Climbing the East Gate tower also offers a bird’s-eye view of some residential houses at the heart of the island, allowing one to experience the quaint charm of the ancient town.

　　Source: Tourism Bureau of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County