The Alleys at the South of the Ancient City

After Zhu Yuanzhang (the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty) chose Nanjing as the capital, he divided the old city into three parts. Among them, the southern part, for which the Confucius Temple is the core, was the most densely populated residential area, so it is called “Old South Nanjing”. It is also the most developed commercial area in Nanjing. As the saying goes, “Hutong in Beijing, Alley in Nanjing”, streets and alleys here are closely connected, silently telling the stories of this ancient and historical city.

Lao Men Dong

Zhonghua Gate was divided into the west part and the east part along the Ming Dynasty City Wall, with the eastern part called as “Lao Men Dong”. East Zhonghua Gate Historic Conservation Area (Lao Men Dong) restores the original “Old South Nanjing” with traditional Chinese-style wooden structure buildings. There is a short rocky road after entering the “Lao Men Dong” Archway, with white-walled and black-tiled buildings and many shops standing both sides. Although Lao Men Dong is in the bustling area of Nanjing, it is still rather tranquil and artistic.

The Jinling Art Museum hidden in Jianzi Lane is designed with a shape of the Chinese character “斗”, based on artistic abstraction of typical streets and alleys in the Jiangnan Region. It maintains the old look of industrial heritage as a whole. The museum mainly exhibits the works of contemporary painters of Nanjing, showing the unique charm of the Jinling School of Painting. In Junhui Bookstore, the first ancient building  rebuilt in Lao Men Dong, many old wood carved structures removed from old houses in the “Old South Nanjing” during transformation are given a second life here. This ancient building renovated in the contemporary era is of profound meaning and full of vitality; moreover, the entry of LIBRAIRIE AVANT-GARDE, a famous bookstore in Nanjing, endows it with the youthful spirit in the new era.

There are still numerous objects considered typical in the memories of native Nanjing people’s life, for example, the eye-catching traditional Chinese sugar in different patterns, which is favored a lot by children, or a colorful dough figurine, or featured Nanjing snacks available in even a small lane.Lao Men Xi and Xin Men Xi

The place opposite to Lao Men Dong (with Zhonghua Gate in between) is called Lao Men Xi, which is also an old part of Nanjing, but Lao Men Xi has not yet been renovated. The houses, streets and alleys that show common people’s lives, and folk customs with historical imprints, can be traced in the streets, blue bricks and black tiles and window mullions in Lao Men Xi. Old people who can retain the vivid memories of old Nanjing are also living here. After entering the Lao Men Xi from Yinmaxiang Alley, you can take a walk in the long and deep alley. Looking up, the interlaced electric wires may block your view of the sky, but at the same time, it is a symbol of the old neighborhoods that get along well with each other, something lying deep in the memory of old Nanjingers.

Nowadays, to improve the quality of people’s lives and give the city a better look, the Lao Men Xi has also been continuously renovated, taking on a new look over time. The completion of Yuedong·Xinmenxi, a sports & fashion industrial park integrating museum visiting, culture & office, and sports and leisure, has made vital contributions to the revival of the Lao Men Xi. It serves as a destination for people of all ages here to enjoy a relaxing and stylish urban life. The establishment of Yuedong·Xinmenxi has also injected new vitality into the old downtown Nanjing.