Hepingmen, Historical city gate in Nanjing, China.
Hepingmen is a city gate in Nanjing that connects the northern and southern sections of Xinhua Street. Built without a gatehouse or defensive structures, it functioned mainly as an urban passage through the city wall.
The gate was built in 1926 with two arched openings in the city wall. Its design broke from traditional Chinese gates by prioritizing urban traffic flow instead of defensive purposes.
The gate's name shifted across different eras, marking how political changes shaped the city's identity in people's minds. These name changes reveal what mattered most to the city at different moments in time.
The gate sits at a central location and is easily reached on foot while moving along Xinhua Street. The area is well integrated into the urban street network, making navigation straightforward.
Unlike many other city gates, this structure was removed in 1958 to improve traffic flow. Its demolition marked a significant shift in how the city prioritized urban development and movement.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
