How to Visit Zhonghua Gate Nanjing (Tips, Photos & Maps)

Plan your Nanjing Tour? Don’t miss Zhonghua Gate （中华门瓮城) , the largest ancient city wall gate complex in China, akin to a huge castle in the west. The massive city wall gate is a historical relic left by Zhu Yuzhuang, the first emperor and founder of Ming Dynasty (1638 -1644) . There used to be 13 gates of this kind along the over-30km ancient city wall of the Ming Dynasty.

The name of Zhonghua Gate was changed for several time. Firs named “south gate” since it was located on the south of the city. It is also known as Jubaomen “Gathering Treasures Gate”. In 1931 when the Republic of China government set Nanjing as its capital, the gate was named Zhonghua Gate ( the Gate of China ).

How get to Gate of China Nanjing (Gate Castle)

" Zhonghua" literally means "China", so that's why the Google Map recognizes the Zhonghua Gate as "Gate of China, Nanjing“. It is located at Zhonghua Road, Qinhuai District, Qinhuai District, Nanjing.

Public bus lines:

From Nanjing Railway Station, take Bus No. 33 and get off at Zhonghuamen Stop.
From Xinjiekou South Station, take bus No. 16 or 33 to Zhonghuamen Station
From Lukou Airport, take the airport bus from Nanjing Lukou Airport to Zhonghuamen Long-distance passenger station, then transfer to No.2 bus to Zhonghuamen Station and get off.

Subway Take Nanjing Metro Line 1 to Zhonghuamen Station and walk there

How to Visit Zhonghua Gate Nanjing

The city gate castle has 3 inner cities connected by four arched gates with its dimensions 118.5 m from east to west, and 128 m from south to north. Each inner city had holes to hide soldiers. Each gate was equipped with a Qianjinzha ( Heavy Gate ) which could be opened up and down.

The Zhonghua Gate has gong through wind and rain for 600 years. It still keeps it original appearance though much of its wooden structures destroyed. Zhonghua Gate is a master piece of China’s ancient engineering project of complex and intricate design, which has a prominent place in the wall construction history in China.

Entrance Fee: 50 yuan per person Opening Hours: 8: 30 - 20:30

While you are planning your short trip to the Gate of China, you are recommended to go deeper to includeNanjing Confucius Temple-The Qinhuai River Scenic Area after you visit the Zhonghua Gate since the gate is only a 20-minute walk from the prominent scenic area.

Now Nanjing Confucius Temple with its old world charming surrounding area is popularly and officially known as Nanjing Confucius Temple-The Qinhuai River Scenic Area (夫子庙秦淮风光带).

Virtual Tour of Gate of China Nanjing

Follow us to have a virtual tour of Zhonghua Gate Nanjing (Gate Castle).

On each side of the gate castle exterior, there are two large ramps used for running soldiers on horse up to the top of the gate castle.

It is estimated that hundreds of millions of bricks were used to build the Ming City wall in Nanjing. The bricks are generally 40 ~ 45 cm long, 20 cm wide and 10 ~ 12 cm thick.