The Nanjing Presidential Palace (南京总统府) is a massive historical complex located at No. 292 Changjiang Road in the Xuanwu District of Nanjing. It spans over 90,000 square meters, blending Western-influenced Republican architecture with traditional Chinese layouts.
First, we entered the main gate followed by a long corridor. Built in 1929, the Western-style, columned main gate opens into a traditional Chinese-style covered corridor. This acts as a symbolic bridge between the classical exterior and the modern administrative complexes deeper inside.
Next, we arrived at the Main Hall (Great Hall). Rebuilt in 1870 on the ruins of the Taiping Heavenly King’s luxury palace, this traditional Chinese hall hosted the most monumental shift in China's modern era. Situated in the western wing, Sun Yat-sen's Provisional Presidential Office is a low-slung, seven-bay Western-style brick building originally served as a garden flower hall for Qing Dynasty viceroys. In early 1912, it transformed into the operational base where Sun Yat-sen hosted the very first cabinet meeting of the new Republic.
Located just northwest of the main hall, an Auditorium sits on the site of the former "Warm Pavilion". It is highly significant as the exact venue where Dr. Sun Yat-sen (孙中山) took his oath of office as the Provisional President on January 1, 1912.
We then came to the Zichao Building (Presidential Building) which contains the preserved offices of Chiang Kai-shek and Vice President Li Zongren. The rooms remain frozen in time, complete with original Republican-era desks, heavy drapes, and antique telephones.
We exited to the outdoor and came to a stunning 1.4-hectare classical Jiangnan-style landscape garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368) called Xu Garden (煦园 / West Garden). It was framed around a clear koi pond and features elaborate rockeries, weeping willows, and traditional pavilions.
After the visit to the Presidential Palace, we had some light snacks and drinks at a nearby Starbucks before ascending the City Wall later in the evening.
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