This article is just one of a series of photographic articles currently being presented at King's Calendar relating to two trips I undertook; to Nanjing on April 3rd and to Ningbo April 12th 2008. Links to all articles may be found at the end of this article.
Introduction to Chiang Kaishek's Palace Nanjing.
Qing Ming Festival (now a public holiday) occurred on Friday 4th April 2008, and having only one class to attend on Thursday 3rd, I headed off to Nanjing to meet up with my former student and current friend Zhang Mingxing. On April 4th we spent the day at Zhongshan Mountain National Park about which I have at this point in time, only written concerning the Ming Tomb. I have yet to write about Sun Yat-sen and the Linggu Temple.
On Saturday 5th, Mingxing took me off to find the Confucius Temple and from there we went on to the Nationalist Government's Presidential Palace complex within which you can find relics related to the Taiping Heavenly King.
This complex is huge. It is an extremely interesting place to visit and one can learn a lot about Chinese history there. It is filled with museums and displays and educational material. It is also just a nice place to relax. The photographs presented in this file, are arranged consecutively. That is to say, you are seeing exactly what I saw as I saw it.
Text written in ITALICS appear on the various signs around the place, and I have tried to reproduce them accurately - which means that they contain errors. The Palace itself is easily accessed by local transport and is opposite major shopping centres and business buildings. When you go for a visit - Wear comfortable shoes!
Presidential Palace Entrance Nanjing
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom erected the Heavenly Dynasty Palace in the Compound of the former Liangjiang Governorgeneral's Yamen. The gate of the Palace was called "Shen Shen Rong Guang Men" (Genius Gate). After the Manchu Troop's recovery of the Heavenly Capital in 1864, it was demolished, and the outer gate of the Liangjiang Governorgeneral's Yamen was rebuilt. The present Western style reinforced concrete gate tower was built by the Nationalist Government in 1929.
Chiang Kai-shek was elected president and organized a Presidential Government in May 1948, and the President gate tower was then renamed the gate of the Presidential Palace.
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
Magic City Morning Star News Taiping Heavenly King - Hong Xiuquan - 'self proclaimed' Emperor of China; instigated the Taiping Rebellion - 1851 to 1864 in China.
Leading to the First Building with the Wall Paintings
Moving West of the National Government
Before the Japanese Troop occupied Nanjing, Chairman of the National Government led his government and ministers to Chongqing in November 1937.
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Leaders (Unfortunately the photograph was such that I could not read the words below the painting.
Starting the journey through the Maze of buildings
Immediately to the left after going through was a small Museum
Reception Building
During the Nationalist Government periods, Chiang Kai-shek, Lin Sen, Li Zongren and other leaders took a short rest in this building before ceremonies began. The Communists-Nationalists Negotiations were held here in 1946. In this building Li Zongren, the Acting President, received the Shanghai Peace Delegates who had returned from BeiPing on 27 February 1949.
Reception Room for Foreign Guest
This western-style building was erected in 1917, when Feng Guozhang was the Jiangsu Military Governor. It was used as a reception room before 1938. After the Nationalists returned from Chongqing and established the Presidential Government, it was used as a reception room for foreign guests. Here Chiang Kai-shek received important foreign guests, such as G.C. (Marshall, J.L. Stuart, A. Wedemeyer et al).
Lots of passageways and lots of tourists.
One Building after the Next
And Another
That sign was in Chinese so I have no idea.
Part of the same room as below
Chiang Kaishek's Office
The three southern exposure rooms of this building were the office of Lin Sen. Chairman of the National Government. The official building was occupied by the Japanese puppet authorities during the Anti-Japanese War. On 19 May 1948, Chiang Kaishek was elected president and it was called president's office.
Beautiful View.
There is a bunker on the far right side of that building. Behind it is the gateway with the little girl.
Presidential Reception Room
It was the Chairman's Reception Room of the Nationalist Govement before 19 May 1948, and was called "presidential reception room" when Chiang Kaishek was electde president. Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren, the Acting President, often received important guests here. Chiang Kai-shek held talks with Zhou Enlai here on 1 July 1946. Li Zongren exchanged views here with Zhang Zhizhong et all, the delegates of the BeiPing Peace Negotiations at 8 p.m. on 19 March 1949.
Meeting Room - No photographs allowed. That was what that little sign on the table said - but who noticed it?
There were a couple of workman atop that walkway, and one was a very young man who figured that the foreigners would not understand Chinese. Ha! I caught him out! I gave him a wave, took his photo, told him I was actually Chinese and went on my way. I know! I am a pain at times!
Lovely Sight Missing only one thing - My companion MingXing.
Mingxing and I got to this point and I wanted to take a few photos but there were a few people climbing over the rocks in the pond. So I held off for a few minutes. When I finished, I turned around to discover that Mingxing was gone. He saw a sign indicating a WC and whizzed off - excuse the pun. When he came back he couldn't see me. Well I had stayed in the area but didn't see him either. After waiting for him for 15 minutes I decided to just keep exploring. After about 30 minutes I returned to this spot and he still was not there. As I headed back the way I came I ran into him. It was a scary ordeal. I had no idea where I was or where I would end up and so had no idea how to get back to the hotel. Ah! Such are the joys of living in China.
Above and Below - shots taken while waiting for Mingxing
The Grey building houses several levels of Museums. Quite fascinating!
Back on the trail - but who knows where we were.
Mingxing on the little bridge beside the Secret Room of the Heavenly King.
The Secret Room of the Heavenly King is surrounded by a moat.
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
