Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace in Nanjing, China, housed the Office of the President of the Republic of China since 1927 until the republic was relocated to Taiwan in 1949. It is now a museum called the China Modern History Museum. It is located at No.292 Changjiang Road (formerly Lin Sen Road), in the Xuanwu District of Nanjing.
Main Gate
It was the site of the main gate of the Viceroy’s Office. During the period of Taiping Rebellion, it became the site of the Gate of True God’s Glorious Light, the main gate of the Heavenly King’s Palace, which was destroyed soon after the imperial troops captured the palace. In 1870, the gate was rebuilt as the main gate of the viceroy’s office, and demolished when the NRA captured Nanjing in 1927.
The current gate, rebuilt in 1929, was a western-style gate with ionic columns. Two stone lions stood on the both sides of the gate. As the HQ of the Nationalist Government, the sign on the gate read “國民政府” (Nationalist Government) from 1929 to 1937 and from 1946 to 1948. During the Japanese occupation of Nanking, it served as the main gate of Legislative Yuan and Control Yuan of the Wang Jingwei regime. After the constitutionalism and the presidential election in 1948, the sign changed into “總統府” (Presidential Palace) until now. Nowadays, it is not only a significant symbol in downtown Nanjing, but also served as the main entrance to the Presidential Palace.
Main Hall
Just north of the main gate, the main hall is the first hall of the Viceroy’s Palace. It was rebuilt in 1870 on the original site of the Supreme Hall of the Glorious Light,the most luxurious hall of the Heavenly King’s Palace during the period of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. It was the place where the viceroy or the Heavenly King held the ceremonies. In January 1912, the inarguration ceremony of the Provisional President was held in the “Warm Pavilion” just on the northwest side of the main hall. From 1927, it was used for government functions by the Nationalist Government and the Office of the President.
The main hall is a traditional Chinese-style hall. At the top of the hall, there is a board on which the four Chinese characters “天下為公” (“All is equal under heaven”) was written by Dr Sun Yat-sen. Behind the main hall there is a corridor which connects it to the second hall. On the west of the corridor stands the auditorium, which was built on the ruins of the “Warm Pavilion”. Heavenly King’s Throne Room is located on the east side of the corridor.
Second Hall
The second hall, also known as the central hall, rebuilt in late 19th century, was the site of the Heavenly King’s inner court. During the period of the Nationalist Government, some minor ceremonies were held in the hall. There is an aisle that lead the visitors to the reception hall.
Reception Hall
Also known as the “八字廰” (literally “Hall of Character Eight”), the western-style reception hall of the Presidential Palace was built in 1917 by Feng Guozhang, Vice President of the Republic of China at that time. After the Northern Expedition of the National Revoluntionary Army, it became the reception rooms for the civil and foreign guests of the Nationalist Government. Before the Chinese Civil War began, Some negotiations between CPC and KMT were signed in this hall. In addition, Chiang Kai-shek, Lin Sen and Li Tsung-jen also rested here before the ceremonies began frequently. President Chiang Kai-shek occasionally worked here instead of the Concrete House.
The Kirin Gate is a red gate situated on the north of the reception hall. This gate would open only if the president went through this place. The gate leads to the House of the Government Affairs, the first office building of the Chairman of the Nationalist Government.
