The Presidential Palace is the largest and best-preserved Chinese modern architecture. The Presidential Palace was built over 600 years ago and its history can trace back to the Ming dynasty. Presidential Palace served as the Jiangning (Nanjing) Fabric Manufacture Bureau, the Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze River) Governor’s General Bureau, and the Bureau of the Governor-General of Jiangnan. It was also used as the temporary imperial palace for the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors during their southern tours. In 1998, the people’s Government of Jiangsu Province decided to use it as the China Modern History Museum. From the east section to the middle section and finally to the west section, the cultural relics and historical material displayed there tell visitors about historical events; the pavilions and stone boats in the West Garden provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the splendid sceneries of the Jiangnan area; the subtle design of the gateway arch and the hall surprise people with the mix of Chinese and western aesthetics. Take a stroll through the scenic area, you may appreciate the buildings that succeed in integrating Chinese and western styles as well as Chinese traditional Jiangnan-style gardens. Please take your time to look back at the moments in the period of the Republic of China.
As a sincere witness to history, the Presidential Palace stands tall in Nanjing, the capital of six dynasties, and tells people its stories.
