Presidential Palace Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
It has been 600 years since the Marquis of Guide's Palace and the King of Han's Palace were constructed in the early Ming Dynasty, on the site now occupied by the Presidential Palace.
Who lived here
In the Qing Dynasty, this house was originally the office building of the governor who was given the dominion over both Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces.
Then in 1853, the head of a revolting team set up his "Peace Kingdom" and his governor house here.
On January 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen made a solemn oath as the first appointed "Interim Grand President" of "the Republic of China" at here.
Then, it was the President House of Chiang Kai-shek, the chairman of KMT, and the ruling party in China before 1949.
What to visit
The gate of the Presidential Palace is western style with meters-long guard stations in two sides while the second gate is typical Chinese style. Through the gate there is a long corridor, along which are hall, foreign guests' reception room, lobby of president and some offices. At the end of the Palace is a 5-store building called "Zichao Building" which got the name by another name of Hushen, the chairman of National Government at that time. There are altogether 1189 rooms, halls, towers, pavilions and attics in the palace, but they can be a whole because the corridors connect these buildings. So you can pass through every building without umbrella in the rainy day.
Office buildings
Office building of Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek handled the official business at Room119, the 2nd floor of Zi Chao Building, opposed which is the office of Vice President Li Zongren. There is the Conference Center at the third floor for holding the national affairs before 1949.
Office building of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
The office building of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first appointed "Interim Grand President" is located at a western style one stored house of West Garden, which was originally the Flowers Hall set up by Governor in Qing Dynasty. The 3 rooms on east side are office, meeting room and the rest room.
The west is the "Vow making Hall," where Dr. Sun Yat-sen took an oath of office as the first appointed "Interim Grand President" of "the Republic of China." Dr. Sun Yat-sen was respected by all Chinese and regarded as "The Father of Republic of China." You could pay a visit and view the records of his swearing speech and the autograph photos as well as the Chinese calligraphy "Fight" written by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
Other spots
Apart from the various office buildings, West Garden is also attractive where stretches a pool shaped like a vase, called Taiping Lake. On the east and the north are Wangfei Building and Xijia Building.
Wangfei Building was built in Kangxi period, Qing Dynasty, originally two stories. It got the name by the legend that the birds rested here after a long flying, then forget to depart because of the beautiful view.
Besides, you can also enjoy the marble boat, the waterside pavilion, the Banting Pavilion, the Yilan Pavilion, the Mandarin Pavilion, and so on. It is currently serving as the Nanjing museum of Chinese contemporary history.
A symbolic return
On April 27, 2005, the Chairman of Kuomintang, Lien Chan, visited the Palace on his trip to Mainland China, marking a symbolic return of the party to the Palace for the first time in 58 years.
When to visit
- Opening Hours: 08:00a.m. - 17:30p.m.
Getting there
No. 1 2 3 5 9 buses