The ‘catching turtles in a jar’ principle and its 27 hidden soldier tunnels, among other ancient military defense facilities, hold special appeal for military enthusiasts. Climbing the city gate offers a panoramic view of the city of Nanjing. Originally known as the Jubao Gate during the Ming Dynasty, it was constructed from 1369 to 1375 and renamed in 1927. The city wall stands approximately 21 meters high, with the Wengcheng measuring roughly 120 meters in both the north-south and east-west directions. The entire structure is built with bricks and stones, using a mixture of tung oil, lime, and glutinous rice juice as mortar, creating a very sturdy construction. Each brick and stone bears the name of the brick maker’s government office and the date of manufacture.
Wengcheng consists of three Wengchengs and four arched gates that interconnect. Each arched gate has a ‘thousand-pound gate’ that can be raised and lowered and double wooden doors, all of which were destroyed by war. In the past, when enemy troops invaded the city gate, the ‘thousand-pound gate’ inside the arched gate would quickly descend, cutting off the enemy’s retreat, with ambush troops emerging to eliminate the enemy, much like closing the door on a dog or catching turtles in a jar.
Opening hours: 08:30-22:00 all year round.
Preferential policies: Children: Minors under 18 years old (accompanied by a ticket-holding guardian), free; Elderly: Over 70 years old, with an elderly ID or ID card, free; Elderly aged 60-69 with an ID card, half price; Military personnel: With an officer’s ID, free; Disabled: With a disabled person’s certificate, free; Retired personnel: With a valid retirement certificate, free; Students: Full-time college students with student ID, half price.
Service facilities: Parking lot: [Zhonghua Gate Wengcheng Parking Lot] Reference price: ¥6/hour; Address: Nanjing Qinhuai District Zhonghua Gate Wengcheng Scenic Area; Capacity: 100 spots. WIFI: Account: i-NanJing-Free; Password: Verification login; Coverage: Full coverage. Luggage storage: Only small item storage service is provided. Scenic area interpretation: The scenic area offers time-limited interpretation services, fee: free.
Convenience Stores: There are multiple convenience stores within the scenic area, located at the book bar in the middle of the lower level of the attraction, providing beverages and snacks, with Alipay and WeChat Pay available.
