Three decades of life in Nanjing, for parts of the human landscape of Nanjing is still relatively vague. When I was little often played in the park attractions, and have not seriously perceived those sites which contain relics of historical human or Six dynasty capitals.
West Temple backpackers walking ring version of the annual activities of the city wall of Nanjing offered me a good opportunity to learn about Nanjing, starting from the Nanjing city walls. Nanjing Ancient City Wall was built in Ming Dynasty, only the perimeter of the inner city reached 33.7kilometers, is longer than the circumference of Paris city wall which was 29.5km. After the first Ming emperor of ancient city wall took 3 years in preparation, experienced 4 stages and totally 21 years to finish the building. To build the city wall of Nanjing the emperor had ordered 5 Province 20 States and 118 Counties to fire the wall bricks. To ensure quality, each brick must be marked on the firing of the state government, county officials and craftsmen, and the names of supervision, so if there is failure to return all the redo, then if failure will have offences. So it is very strict. These city bricks are 40～50cm long and 20cm wide, thickness is not less than 10cm. The total number reached 3 billion and 50 million, which ndicated the momentum of the big city wall of Nanjing and the quality of the wall is good. Unfortunately, Nanjing is also the place of military significance, after several times of the war, destruction is also serious, reserved to date only a few gates, and the gates are not consistent between each other, which is Nanjing people's regret.
Nanjing gates are a lot, older people know about this. There are 13 gates in Nanjing city, outside the city there are 18 gates. The legendary said that when the emperor died the funeral were held at the 13 gates at the same time, so future generations would not know about his real tomb.
On the 17, we took a walk around the Nanjing city, starting from the northwest corner of the Lion Rock hill, loop walk around along the walls. About 40 friends from the urban area met at 8 at the gate of the Lion Rock Yuejiang Tower Park.
Along the way there were leaving people as well as those catching up with the team, and it was a really meaningful activity, physical fitness testing of endurance, while trying to understand the Nanjing city wall.
1. Passed the first gate door: Giho Gate
Boarded on the Giho Gate looking to the Yuejiang Tower and Jinghai Temple, and the scenery is beautiful.
2. Ding Huai front Gate: just have not seen the door. Wall is to this end here; with the team leader's help, after the second free fall " to go" under the city walls .
3. Yi Jiang Gate: People's Liberation Army across the river from the North of Long River from " Yi Jiang Gate" into the liberation of Nanjing
4. The Cool Gate
5. Han Zhong Gate
6. Ji Qing Gate
7. Zhong Hua Gate: now the gate is one of the best well-preserved ones, the wall has Tibetan Soldiers holes inside, is a multi-facilities gate.
8. Yu Hua Gate
9. Wu Ding Gate
10. East Water Gate
11. Tong Ji Gate: the door also disappeared. Through both sides of the bridge and the broken wall bases, showing that here once was Guang Hua Gate.
Here comes the old city of Nanjing whcih has been around for more than half of it, about 20 km journey. Physical force has been the reason to quit and go home. Next day will have persistent efforts to finish the rest of the whole way.