Presidential Palace（南京总统府）Travel Guide
Nov 12, 2024
by orient china travel
Nanjing Presidential Palace Travel Guide
1. Introduction
The Nanjing Presidential Palace is a significant modern historical architecture complex located at 292 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing. It has a history of over 600 years. It was initially constructed as the Marquis Guide Residence and later became the Prince Han's Residence in the early years of the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, it has served as the official residences of the Liangjiang Viceroys in the Qing Dynasty, and was also used as a temporary dwelling palace by emperors Kangxi and Qianlong during their inspection tours to the south. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, Hong Xiuquan built a large-scale Heavenly King's Palace here. In 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen was sworn in as the provisional president here12. It is one of the most complete architecture groups in China and an important site of modern Chinese history24.
The Nanjing Presidential Palace is a significant modern historical architecture complex located at 292 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing. It has a history of over 600 years. It was initially constructed as the Marquis Guide Residence and later became the Prince Han's Residence in the early years of the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, it has served as the official residences of the Liangjiang Viceroys in the Qing Dynasty, and was also used as a temporary dwelling palace by emperors Kangxi and Qianlong during their inspection tours to the south. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, Hong Xiuquan built a large-scale Heavenly King's Palace here. In 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen was sworn in as the provisional president here12. It is one of the most complete architecture groups in China and an important site of modern Chinese history24.
2. How to Get There
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- By Public Transport:
- Bus: You can take buses such as No. 3 Road (inner loop) / No. 31 Road and get off at Nanjing Library Station; or take No. 44 Road / No. 304 Road and get off at the Presidential Palace Station; or take the Sightseeing Bus Dongjiao Line 1 and get off at the Meiyuanxincun Station near the Presidential Palace.
- Subway: Take Metro Line 3 in the direction of Maozhou East Road and get off at Daxinggong Station (Exit 5)5.
- By Car: There are several parking lots around the Presidential Palace, such as the Presidential Palace scenic area parking lot, Daxinggong underground parking lot, and 1912 parking lot. However, it is advisable to check the parking fees and locations in advance5.
3. Tickets and Opening Hours
- Tickets: The ticket price is reasonable. Please check the official website or on-site ticket office for the most up-to-date ticket information.
- Opening Hours: From March 1st to October 14th, it is open from 08:30 to 18:00 (ticket sales stop at 17:00 and entry stops at 17:10); from October 15th to the end of February of the following year, it is open from 08:30 to 17:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:00 and entry stops at 16:10). It is closed all day on Mondays except for legal holidays. In case of major events or special reasons, the opening hours may be arranged .
4. Main Areas and Attractions
- Central Area:
- Presidential Palace Gatehouse: The gatehouse is a landmark building of the Nanjing Presidential Palace. The original site was the gate of the Liangjiang Governor's Office in the Qing Dynasty. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, it was once changed to the "Gate of True God's Glory". In 1929, the new gatehouse was rebuilt. It features eight Ionic columns on the south facade and 巴洛克 - style decorative lines. The black arched connecting iron door on the south side is designed with three openings, each with two inward-opening iron doors and hollowed-out designs. The north side is square, implying the meaning of "being outwardly flexible but inwardly firm" and also symbolizing "heaven is round and the earth is square"2.
- The Great Hall: It is the main building in the Presidential Palace, adopting a hard mountain-top structure with a single-layer double-eave style. It has witnessed many historical events. For example, Sun Yat-sen's inauguration ceremony in 1912 was held in the west chamber behind the hall.
- Zichao Tower: It is the main building in the Nanjing Presidential Palace, also known as the Office Building. It has five floors, with the first floor for civil officials, the second floor for the president and vice president, and the third floor for conferences.
- Western Area (Xuyuan Garden): Xuyuan Garden is located in the west of the Presidential Palace, so it is also called the "West Garden". It is a typical southern Chinese garden with attractions such as the Stone Boat (Bu Xi Zhou), Wangfei Pavilion, Pavilion of the Ripple, and Yinxin Tablet House. The most notable building here is the Office of the Provisional President, where the first cabinet meeting of the Provisional Republican Government was held on January 21st, 1912.
- Eastern Area: It includes the Dongyuan (East Garden), the Administrative Yuan, and other buildings. The Administrative Yuan consists of the South Building and the North Building. The North Building was completed in 1928, and the South Building was designed by Zhao Shen in 1934. Both the North and South Buildings have air-raid shelters in the basement, which is a unique feature of the buildings during the war period2.
5. Travel Tips
- Time Allocation: It is recommended to allocate 2 to 4 hours for your visit to fully appreciate the historical and cultural connotations of the Presidential Palace.
- Guided Tours: You can choose to join a guided tour or use an audio guide to better understand the history and stories behind each attraction.
- Photography: The Presidential Palace has many beautiful architectures and landscapes, which are great for photography. However, please follow the regulations and do not damage the attractions while taking photos.
- Respect for History: This is an important historical site, so please respect the history and culture here and do not engage in any behavior that may damage the attractions.