Tongyuan Gate Park, also known as Tongyuanmen City Wall Relic Site Park, (通远门遗址公园) is a historical and cultural treasure nestled within Chongqing, China. This park is a testament to the city’s rich past, showcasing a harmonious blend of art, architecture, and history. Comprising a square, ancient city walls, and a collection of sculptures, it offers visitors a unique journey through time.
The park’s sculptures are a compelling narrative of Chongqing’s history, chronicling the construction, defense, and siege of the old city walls. They are complemented by two sets of folk art sculptures, “Chao Mi Tang Kai Shui” (Fried Rice with Sugar Water) and “Hua Gan,” (a transport like a sedan-chair, but much crude), which exude a vibrant local flavor. They add depth and authenticity to the park, making it a place where tourists can truly immerse themselves in the historical and cultural tapestry of Chongqing.
Table of Contents
- Basic Informaiton
- Location and Transportation
- Features of Tongyuan Gate
- History of Tongyuan Gate
- Video about Tongyuan Gate Park
- Attractions near Tongyuan gate Park
Basic Informaiton
| Estimated Lenght of Tour | 0.5 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day |
| Telephone Number | 0086-023-63522888 |
Location and Transportation
Tongyuan Gate Park is situated in the Yuzhong District of Chongqing, China, specifically in the Qixinggang area. Its exact address is 14 Jintang Street. To get there, you can choose the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 401, 461, or 465, and get off at Qixinggang Stop (七星岗站)
Metro: The closest metro station to Tongyuan Gate Park is Qingxinggang (七星岗) on line 1 and line 10. After getting out of the station from Exit 1, walk about 300 meters to the east to reach the park.
Features of Tongyuan Gate
Tongyuan Gate, located to the west of the park, is a remarkable piece of ancient architecture. Its construction features stone blocks meticulously stacked to form a double-arched gateway with skylights in between for natural lighting. Standing at 5.33 meters in height, 3.5 meters in width, and 7.41 meters in thickness, this gate is a formidable structure. While the original gatehouse no longer stands, remnants of the city wall, extending around a hundred meters on either side, can still be seen. The once-existing barbican has been lost to the ravages of time.
Historically, Chongqing had a total of seventeen city gates, nine open and eight closed. Tongyuan Gate, situated to the west, was the city’s sole land entrance, serving as the starting point for overland journeys to other regions. It derived its name, “Tong Yuan” or “Far-reaching,” from this significant role it played in connecting the city to distant destinations.
History of Tongyuan Gate
The precursor to Tongyuan Gate was known as Zhenxi Gate. Its foundation was laid during the fourth year of the Jianxing era in the Three Kingdoms period (226 AD) when the governor Li Yan constructed the city wall of Jiangzhou. Subsequently, in the second year of the Jiexi era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1238 AD), a scholar named Peng Daya constructed a stone-based structural wall to resist the Mongol cavalry. The existing city walls and gate site are remnants of the stone walls built by Dai Ding on the foundation of the earlier city wall during the initial years of the Hongwu era in the Ming Dynasty.
As the city evolved through the ages, enduring turbulent times and transformations, the city walls of Tongyuan Gate have stoically witnessed over six centuries of Chongqing’s historical development. This park serves as a testament to the city’s resilience and its unwavering connection to its storied past. Visitors to Tongyuan Gate Park can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Chongqing’s history and culture, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking to explore the heart of this dynamic city.
