Chaozong Gate

Chaozong Gate is the south gate of the ancient city of Jiangyin, with a long history and cultural value. Chaozong Gate is located in Jiangyin. It has existed since the first year of the Liang Dynasty's Shaotai period (555 AD) when Jiangyin County was established, and it has a history of more than 1100 years. It is one of the four original city gates of Jiangyin, the other three being Yanqing Gate, Qinming Gate, and Tongjin Gate. As the south gate, Chaozong Gate witnessed the forest of sails during the Song and Yuan dynasties, the bustling merchants during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the tragic defense of the city at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and the fierce battles against the Japanese invaders. Like an elder of Jiangyin, its weathered bricks bear the marks of many storms. The name Chaozong Gate originates from the phrase 'Jiang, Han chaozong yu hai' in the ancient text 'Shangshu·Yugong,' symbolizing the rivers like the Yangtze River eventually flowing into the sea, implying tribute or submission to the ocean. In ancient times, the estuary of the Yangtze River was at Wuzimen in ancient Jiangyin, with the western part called Yangtze River and the eastern part called the East Sea. The estuary was trumpet-shaped, hence the beautiful name 'Yangzi Autumn Waves.'