Cangpo Creek Gate serves as the main entrance to the ancient village of Cangpo, constructed during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Historically known as the ‘Carriage Gate,’ it is a well-ordered ceremonial building with a wooden archway structure. The dougong brackets are robust, and the double-layered roof features two layers of extended eaves on each side. The wooden pillars slightly lean inward from bottom to top, a technique referred to as ‘side foot’. There are five horizontal beams ascending in the center. The ‘Carriage Gate’ belongs to the architectural techniques before the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a style that can be traced back to the Song dynasty. In front of the gate, there is a stone-paved ‘Jinshi Terrace’. From the road to the Jinshi Terrace, there are three steps called ‘Three Trials Steps’, and from the Jinshi Terrace to the gate, there are seven steps. Under the gate, there is a ‘Grand Master’s Hat’ pattern made of four granite slabs. Inside the gate, there is a ‘Five Dragons’ bridge, also known as ‘Ding Xiang’ bridge, formed by five stone slabs. Each of these features has a specific meaning and is closely related to the ancient imperial examination system. The gate is open all year round from 8:00 to 16:30.
Cangpo Creek Gate
Cangpo Creek Gate serves as the main entrance to the ancient village of Cangpo, constructed during t[...]
