The Zhonghau Gate by Paul2001
The Zhonghau Gate is the largest and southernmost of Nanjing's city gates. The size of the gate caught me off guard as it appeared be so huge and so well fortified that it is more comparable to a 19th century European fortress than a simply a "city gate".The gate was built between 1366 and 1386. Huge bricks were used in the construction making the gate almost indestructible to 14th century weaponry. The gate contains four different archways and three courtyards between them. There were also 27 caves built into the fortified ramparts and archways where the gate's garrison could seek cover during a bombardment. In all the gate is 128m in depth and 118.5m in length.
Today it is possible to visit the gate for Y10. Inside one of the caves is a small museum detailing the history of the city walls. Along the ramps up to the ramparts are life size mannequins dressed in period uniforms. From the ramparts themselves are good views of Nanjing.