Zhonghua Gate Castle (Zhonghua Gate Barbican)

The largest of the thirteen inner gates of the Ming city wall, completed in 1386, with a deep defensive layout of three successive barbicans and as many as 27 troop-hiding caves; its scale and design are rare nationwide, earning it the title 'the foremost barbican under heaven'. The wall bricks bear inscriptions with the names of the craftsmen and supervisors — physical evidence of the Ming dynasty's 'carve the maker's name on the work' quality-traceability system. A folk legend tells that Zhu Yuanzhang borrowed Shen Wansan's treasure bowl (jubaopen) to lay the gate's foundation, hence its old name, Jubaomen (Treasure Bowl Gate). From the ramparts you can look down on the lanes of Laomendong and the glazed pagoda of Dabaoen Temple; when it opens at night, the lit gate tower merges with the Qinhuai Lantern Festival — grandeur and street life side by side.

Getting there: Next to Laomendong