Unlike the square northern city with the symmetrical axis, Jingzhou ancient city elevates according to the terrain, winds along the lake pool with delicate architecture. The ancient city wall of Jingzhou was built in the Three Kingdoms. The brick city wall was first constructed in the Five Dynasties. The existing city wall rebuilt in Ming and Qing Dynasties is the unique ancient wall which has lasted the longest period in China and spanned the most dynasties. It evolved from the original single earth wall to the mixed bricks and earth one. The perimeter of the wall extends for 11.28 kilometers and has six gates and nine towers. There are existing six ancient gates, two towers, five caves of fighters garrison, 26 forts, barbican, double gate, etc. Maintained in good condition, it is praised as "the rare well-preserved wall in southern China.
Splendid scenery is available in four seasons
There are diversified views in the ancient city which is worth visiting in different seasons
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National AAAA Tourist Scenic Spot
Binyang Tower in East Gate
Located in the middle of the east part of the ancient wall in Jingzhou City, Yinbin Gate serves as the east gate of Jingzhou City. Yinbin Gate faces eastward in the direction of 10degrees to southeast. 45 degrees to south, the arrow tower sits to southeast and both two platforms are not on a central axis. The intersection with the barbican has an irregular rectangular shape. The inner space of the barbican is longer and wider, mostly north. The pedestrian and horse track directing to the platforms are constructed on the northern side. There is no pedestrian or horse road setting on the southern one which is wrapped in a rammed earth wall with a total construction area of about 2,876.14 square meters. On the front of the city platform, there is a stone plaque engraved with three Chinese characters "寅宾门"above the arch, which is 2 meters long and 0.9 meters wide. The wide moat outside the Arrow Tower winds along the city wall.
On the city platform is the Binyang Tower, and there are steps on both north and south sides of the base. The Binyang Tower was originally built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.The three bays long three bays wide construction is a mixture of post and lintel construction and column and tie construction, and a single-layer flush gable roof decorated with blue roof tile. In November 1985, the provincial government funded the cleanup, reinforcement and partial maintenance of the city platform.Later In August 1986, the collapsed tower was demolished, and the Binyang Tower was rebuilt on the original site by the National Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute. The reconstructed Binyang Tower with East Asian hip-and-gable roof style is 24.5 meters in height 15.13 meters in width from east to west, and a length of 35.61 meters from north to south. It is made of large wooden frame structure, magnificent and unique in shape, maintaining the style of Ming Dynasty architecture. The upper floor is equipped with a fascinating corridor. A 2.6 meter-long and 1.2 meter-wide wooden plaque inscribed with three golden Chinese characters"宾阳楼"by famous Chinese calligrapher Zhao Puchu is suspended on the east side of the tower.
Gongan Gate
At the southernmost end of the eastern side of ancient city wall is the Gongan Gate. It originally served as the watergate of the ancient city, outside which there was the official wharf. The building is composed of the main tower, the arrow tower and the barbican in egg shape. The main building is in the direction of 75 degrees to southeast and the Arrow Tower is facing southeast in 40 degrees. The total construction area is about 1250 square meters.
On the city platform, the original towers named Wangjiang towers was built there, which was destroyed in the war and left only in remains. Walls on both sides of the platform are constructed with rammed earth core in the shape of Chinese character "Eight" and pedestrians still exist in the northeast and wall in the southwest is surrounded by earth.
Gongji Gate
Gongji Gate commonly known as the Great North Gate,is located in the northwest section of Jingzhou City Wall which was pierced mainly by it.After the civil war in 1940s, there were still wooden suspension bridges on the moat. Outside the city is Triumph Street, and inside the city, Sanyi Street is close to the city platform. The two streets are paved with bluestone slabs and lined with residential buildings in the late Qing Dynasty. Gongji Gate is also known as the Great North Gate, called Liu Gate in ancient time, Gongchen Gate in Ming dynasty and renamed as Gongji Gate in the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty.
Chaozong Tower: In the 18th year of Daoguang period in Qing dynasty (AD 1838),the Chaozong Tower was rebuilt on the Gongji Gate with the East Asian hip-and-gable roof which is 41.8 meters in length and 26.18 meters in width now, including the surrounding corridors.
Nanji Gate
Nanji Gate (commonly known as South Gate), located in the middle of the south side of ancient Jingzhou City , was the South Gate of Jingzhou City in ancient times. Nanji Gate and Arrow Tower both facing south are on the same central axis. Two flanked barbican are semi-arced and intersect with them. On each side of the wall of barbican are two symmetrical arch-shaped temporary doors. The temporary doors cross with the gate corridor and are paved with a large limestone slabs. The ramps on both sides of the platform are parallel to the main building and the platform, tourists can go up to the platform on the wall by steps which is close to the side wall. Pedestrian footsteps are set on both sides of the top, which coincides with the platform and runs through the pavement on the top of barbican. The total building area is about 2700 square meters.
Gate of Yuanan
Gate of Yuanan，commonly known as Little North Gate, formerly known as Gate of Protection, was changed to Yuanan in Qing Dynasty later. Located in the eastern part of the central part of Jingzhou City Wall, it is composed of the Arrow Tower and barbican. The slope-protected slabs along the moat is well preserved. In ancient times, all the local soldiers went on an expedition through this gate. The people in the city hoped that their distant relatives would return safely, then it was named Yuanan which means staying in safety afar in Chinese.
The original city tower on the Gate of Yuanan was named Jinglong tower. It was destroyed by the Japanese army during the WWII and now only the remains left. There are horse trails and pedestrian passages on both sides of Gate of Yuan'an City Platform. Pedestrian steps are also built on both sides of the top of the city platform. In front of the city platform and on the outer wall of the barbican, there is a city wall, and on the back and on the inner wall of the city, a parapet wall is set up.The city walls and the top of the city are covered with bricks.
The first wall Museum in Hubei Province was built in Ancient Historic and Cultural Tourism Area of Jingzhou. The wall rammed with mortar made of lime and glutinous rice slurry on display in the museum is regarded as the prototype nationally. This mini-museum is like a masterpiece of chronicle. Visitors can interpret the unique way of building the ancient city wall by the collection of some historical materials and archaeological excavations. The City Wall Museum is built in Little North Gate Scenic Area.
Anlan Gate
Anlan Gate commonly known as West Gate, formerly known as Longshan Gate,is the only way to the scenic spot of Longshan (Baling Mountain) in the suburbs. Located in the middle of the west wall of Jingzhou City, it consists of the Arrow Tower and the City.
The Anlan Gate which faces west and has the arrow tower in the direction of 5° to southwest is far from the arrow tower city platform, compared with the other five ones. Two city platforms is 46.6 meters apart in south corner and 48.35 meters in north.
One end of the south side of the city is intersected with the Anlan Gate city platform at right angles, and the other end is curved with the arrow tower. The other end in the north side of the city is intersected with the Anlan Gate city platform at an angle of 60°, and the other end is connected by a circular arc. The entire building area with approximately 4,707 square meters is similar to the shape of square in layout.The city tower Jiuyang Tower was destroyed during WWII.After the civil war, , there was a three-bay flush gable roof tower on the city platform. Due to years of disrepair, it was ruined and demolished in 1983, and now only the castle tower site is preserved. Sidewalks and horse tracks are set up on both sides of the city platform. A stone plaque is embedded on the front arch of the city platform, and the word "Anlanmen" is inscribed in the slot. There is a city wall on the front wall of the city platform and a parapet wall on the back wall.
1)Bricks on Jingzhou City Wall
On the horse track leading to the Binyang Tower of the East Gate and Chaozong Tower on the Great North Gate, there are bricks with text. The brick records the profound history of the Jingzhou city wall, reflecting the changes in the administrative area under Jingzhou. The bricks in Ming and Qing Dynasties are special blue bricks, which have strict requirements on specifications and quality. The texted bricks are average 43 cm long, 22 cm wide and 13 cm thick, and each brick is about 4 kg in weight.
2) Caves of fighters garrison and Turrets
There are 26 turrets (commonly known as horse faces) and 5 caves of fighters garrison on the city wall. Each one is numbered in order, and the overall shape is preserved intactly. The five caves are distinctive in character, their architectural style and internal architectural structure are uniquely set, and it is still preserved in the original state.
3) The White House Passage
White House Passage is an important military facility on the Jingzhou city wall. There is a secret door on the outside wall of it through which only one person with a horse can pass.According to legend, once the city encounters an emergency, a messenger riding a white horse would gallop for help, hence, the passage was named. Obviously, this is an extremely secret military passage which can be used for not only communication in emergency but also withdrawal of troops, showing the wisdom and intricate defense system of Jingzhou Ancient City.
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