Old West Gate (Laoximen)
老西门
A shantytown renovation district centered on the old West Gate moat and yinzi houses. Between Hulu Gate and Pipa Lane you can eat, shop and take photos. It is a model of Changde's urban renewal.
Old West Gate is on the west side of Changde's old city in Wuling District. The area was once a shantytown around the ancient city's west gate and moat. After renovation in the 2010s, it kept its moat, city wall remains and traditional yinzi house layout, and became an open district combining restaurants, cultural and creative shops, guesthouses and bookstores. In the core area near Hulu Gate, stone bridges, flowing water and green brick walls come together, and the lighting at night is soft. It is often called Changde's most artistic district. Intangible heritage displays such as Changde Silk-String Opera are also held here. The district is free to enter, and it is easy to try Changde rice noodles, bozi cai (bowl dishes) and jiangban duck. It is a 15-minute walk from the Changde Poetry Wall, and can be combined with Riverside Street for a city night tour. Coordinates are approximate.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Wuling Pavilion
- Changde Museum
- Binhu Park
- Battle of Changde Memorial Park
- Changde Poetry Wall
- Changde River Street
- Deshan Gufeng Pagoda
- Datang Sima City