Zhongcheng Gate Introduction
Climbing up the stairs brings back nostalgic feelings. Before the completion of Zhongzhuharbor, Zhongcheng Gate served as the gateway to Dongyin Island, the passage for soldiers and fishermen. Today, it has lost its original function. Zhongcheng Gate is an ancient-style half-circular structure located at the entrance of the coastal area of Nan'ao, Dongyin Island. On both sides of the gate stand large red banners with white characters that read "Uphold Law, Seek Practicality, Work Hard, Be Frugal." A statue of a soldier holding a gun stands atop the city wall, embodying a valiant stance of "one man holding the pass, ten thousand men cannot pass." This reflects the historical atmosphere of Dongyin's past as a battlefield. Passing through the city gate and climbing the stairs, one arrives at the once bustling area of "Zhonglu," which is the urban center of Dongyin built against the mountains — Zhongliucun and Lehuacun. This area retains many traditional Eastern Fujian residences, made of granite, sturdy and simple, reminiscent of "the battlefield version of Jiufen." Climbing up to the city gate provides a great vantage point to overlook Zhongzhuharbor next to the statue; located to the left and behind Zhongcheng Gate is the Tianhou Temple of Dongyin, said to have been built during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, and it remains an important center of faith for the local residents. The indomitable soldiers of Dongyin. On Zhongcheng Gate stands a statue of a soldier, built around 1974, which has served for over 40 years and still stands guard today. Inspired by a military recruitment ad, it is named "A-Rong," and has become a spiritual symbol for both soldiers and civilians of Dongyin, as well as a must-visit site for many veterans returning to their old haunts.
