Ming Palace Ruins
明故宫遗址
Remains of the Ming imperial palace built by Zhu Yuanzhang. The Wuchaomen (Noon Gate) terrace, remaining column bases, and Five Dragon Bridge survive, and the palace served as the model for Beijing's Forbidden City.
The Ming Palace was built beginning in 1366 by Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming dynasty. After the capital moved to Beijing under the Yongle Emperor, the Forbidden City was built on this palace's model. The palace was later destroyed in wars, leaving only ruins. It is now the Ming Palace Ruins Park and Wuchaomen Park, where visitors can see the Wuchaomen terrace, the Inner Five Dragon Bridge, and scattered giant stone column bases that convey the palace's scale. The park is free and open roughly 06:00–21:00. Ming Palace Station on Metro Line 2 is right at the exit, and the Nanjing Museum is nearby, so the two can be combined into a half-day tour.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–21:00
Nearby sights
- Nanjing Museum
- Meiyuan New Village Memorial Hall
- Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacturing Museum
- Six Dynasties Museum
- Presidential Palace
- Nanjing 1912 Block
- Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-sen
- Meiling Palace