Yongjin Gate, Ancient city gate in Hangzhou, China

Yongjin Gate is a city entrance in Hangzhou built with stone arch construction and traditional Chinese design elements. A water passage runs beneath the structure and links it to the historical canal system surrounding the city.

Yongjin Gate was first built in 936, the first year of the Tianfu era of the Five Dynasties Wu Yue kingdom, as one of Hangzhou's western city gates. A pool, Yongjin Chi, was dug and filled with water from West Lake, and the gate was built at that spot. In the Song dynasty it was called Fengyu Gate. It was demolished in the early years of the Republic of China; only the site remains.

The gate's name comes from the Yongjin Pool, dug to channel water from West Lake. A local rhyme, "Boat rides outside Yongjin Gate", recalls its role on Hangzhou's water route. The gate was demolished in the early Republic, leaving only the site, and the surrounding Yongjin community now belongs to Hubin Subdistrict, Shangcheng District.

The gate itself no longer stands: it was demolished in the early Republic of China, and only the site remains on the east shore of West Lake. Look for the spot near the lake's eastern edge, in the Yongjinmen community of Hubin Subdistrict, Shangcheng District. The location is open and can be visited at any time.

The gate was demolished in the early years of the Republic of China, so only its site remains; the name survives in the Yongjinmen community of Hubin Subdistrict, Shangcheng District. The old folk rhyme "rowing boats outside Yongjin Gate" recalls its role on Hangzhou's water route.