The only ancient city tower with royal temperament in Guangdong is located in Chaozhou, but Chaozhou has never been an ancient capital.

As a tourist city, Chaozhou in Guangdong retains a strong Tang and Song style, and its architecture reflects the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is the only city in Guangdong with a complete ancient city atmosphere.

When traveling to Chaozhou, you must visit Guangji Bridge and the ancient city wall. The Guangji Gate Tower in the ancient city wall opposite to Guangji Bridge always leaves a deep impression on people.

The Guangji Gate Tower was built in the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty and has been more than 600 years old. However, what we see now is not the original building, but the one rebuilt in the early twentieth century. It was said to be a reconstruction, but in fact only some components were left at that time. The designer responsible for the reconstruction drawings based on the ancient Chaozhou city map of the Qing Dynasty and the shape of the buildings left over from the Ming Dynasty in Chaozhou City at that time, integrated Chaozhou traditional craftsmanship, and drew lessons from Beijing, Xi'an and other brothers It is reconstructed in the style of similar buildings in the city. Its appearance is quite elegant and imposing like the gate tower of the imperial capital. Today, it is the only one in Guangdong Province. Even in Guangzhou, which was once the capital of the Nanyue Kingdom and the Southern Han Dynasty, no similar building can be found. The special thing is that Chaozhou has never been a capital city.

Chaozhou has gate towers such as Shangshui Gate, Xiashui Gate, Bamboo Wooden Gate, and Guangji Gate. Only the Guangji Gate Gate Tower has a royal temperament. It is also the largest and most meticulously designed among the several gate towers. This exquisite one is now a key national cultural relic protection unit, with a small museum inside.

Climbing up the city tower, you will see the surging Han River to the east, the majestic Bijia Mountain, the Han Wengong Temple at the foot of the mountain, which silently tells a thousand-year story, and the arcades and archways to the west, making the ancient city look like a scroll.

Guangji Bridge, directly opposite Guangji Gate, is one of the four ancient bridges in China and the only classical bridge that integrates the landscape of bridge pavilions and shuttle boats.

Every evening, the shuttle boats in the middle of Guangji Bridge will disperse to form a "broken bridge" to facilitate the passage of large ships. In the next morning, they will be rejoined to facilitate tourists to travel between the two sides of the Han River.

Because it faces Hanjiang River, Guangjimen Gate Tower is also called "Hanjiang Tower". This palace-style gate tower is a three-story hilltop attic style, surrounded by windows and carved beams and painted buildings. The day view is majestic with the blue sky and white clouds. The night view and the arcades on Archway Street set off each other. It is magnificent, bright and dreamy, no matter from which angle it is viewed. Looking up or looking down at it gives you the feeling of traveling through history.

Because this stone and wood structure tower is located in the east of the ancient city, folk custom calls it the "East Gate Tower". This name often appears in some traditional Chaoshan operas. A typical representative is "Chen Gate Tower". "Three and Five Niangs".

In the past, after exiting Guangji Gate, you would reach the suburbs. After crossing Guangji Bridge, there were many rural areas in the vast area opposite. Passing through Guangji Gate from east to west meant entering the city. Ancient Chinese New Year Parades and entertainment activities during the period are all held in the ancient city. The Jao Tsung-I Academic Hall next to Guangji Bridge is a Chaozhou-style garden with white walls and black tiles that reflect the aesthetic taste of Chaozhou literati.

Travel guide: Both Chaozhou Line 603A and Line B pass through Guangji Gate. It is recommended to visit the tourist attractions such as Archway Street, Kaiyuan Temple, Guangji Bridge, and Beige Buddha Lantern together.