Four gateways
And their courtyards.
西安兵马俑 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 西安兵马俑 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · User:Vmenkov — CC BY-SA 3.0 · User:Vmenkov — CC BY-SA 3.0 · 东京村子 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — CC0 · Chainwit. — CC BY 4.0 · 西安兵马俑 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The great southern gate of Nanjing's city wall and one of the most complex and best-preserved defensive gates in the world, built by the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming dynasty, when he made Nanjing his capital; it was called the «Gate of Gathered Treasure» until it was renamed Zhonghua in 1931. It is made of four gateways in a row with three walled courtyards between them, and its walls hold 27 vaults that once hid thousands of soldiers and supplies; many bricks in the wall bear stamps naming those who made them, so each maker could be held to account for his bricks. Nanjing's wall was built between 1360 and 1386, about 33.7 kilometres long and 14 to 21 metres high; most of it still stands, making it one of the longest surviving city walls in the world, and you can walk along its top in several sections. A ticket for the wall section that includes the gate is about CNY 50, per visitor guides. A walk on the wall at sunset is a pleasure, paid light shows are staged at the gate in the evening, and the old Laomendong quarter is a few steps away.
And their courtyards.
Inside the walls.
With makers' names.
Southern end of Zhonghua Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing
Laomendong Old QuarterA historic quarter in the south of old Nanjing, east of Zhonghua Gate inside the9 minutes walk4.7
Fuzimiao and the Qinhuai RiverNanjing's best-known old quarter, on both banks of the Qinhuai River, which loca14 minutes walk4.7
Jingjue MosqueNanjing's largest and oldest mosque, in the south of the old city near Sanshan S16 minutes walk4.7Yes, you can walk along the top in several sections; the section including Zhonghua Gate costs about CNY 50, per visitor guides.