Attractions
Presidential Palace
With a history of more than 600 years, Nanjing Presidential Palace has become China's largest modern history museum. It has been the political and military hub of China from 1840 to 1949.
Being located at No.292 Changjiang Road in Nanjing, Presidential Palace has become China’s largest modern history museum, which has witnessed a series of major events in the past 100 years from 1840-1949. It is said to be the political and military hub and closely related to some important figures, such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek. The complex has become important sites of modern Chinese history.
Covering an area of 90,000 square meters at present, the palace is divided into three parts, the central area and the two wings. The central area is mainly the National government, the presidential palace and the supporting organizations. The Council of the Nationalist Government was located in the east wing and its military authorities in the west wing. Today, the presidential palace has preserved many modern construction of China and the West completely. With the unique and sincere historical culture atmosphere, the precious cultural relic, the historical data, and the beautiful scenery, Presidential Palace welcomes the guest at home and abroad warmly.
History
The history of the palace dates back to the Ming Dynasty 600 years ago. The palace has witnessed changes in the four historical period of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864) and the Republic of China (1912-1949). After the liberation of Nanjing, the palace has been as the office space of organs. Since the 1980s, organs and units gradually moved out, and the Nanjing Modern History Museum started to build in this site in 1998. After years of construction, the museum took shape in 2003.
What to see
Gate tower
The gate tower, built in 1929, is the front gate of the Presidential Palace. It is a western style structure with meters-long guard stations in two sides. The name of the gate has changed several times in the past, such as Huangtian Gate, National Government, Presidential Palace.
Grand Hall
The hall is a typical Chinese style construction. Formally, it was the Golden Dragon Hall of the Heavenly King’s Mansion during the period of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Later, it was renovated into the grand hall for the national government. Now, a horizontal board inscribed with “The world belongs to the public” is hanging under the eave of the hall.
Auditorium
The auditorium used to be the flower hall of Liangjiang Province of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In the period of the Republic of China, the auditorium was the place where President Chiang Kai-shek took an oath of office in 1948, held important meetings and received letters of credence presented by foreign ambassadors, etc.
Zichao Tower
Lin Sen, the head of the national government, also styled ‘Zichao’. For he stayed here for a long time than other leaders, the building was named as Zichao Tower. It was built in 1934. The tower has five floors, including the office of Secretariat, the office room for the President, Vice President, and secretary-general, the state conference hall, etc.
