Today I want to share with you a bookstore, but when it comes to this bookstore, we have to start with the city gate of Chongqing. Chongqing, a mountainous city, has been passed down with many intriguing stories and elements since the Ba culture began three thousand years ago, and the city gate of old Chongqing is one of them. At present, many tourists and even locals in Chongqing have more memories of Chongqing city gates based on their names. That's right, many place names in Chongqing use the names of city gates from that time, such as Chaotianmen, Wanglongmen, Nanjimen, Chuqimen, and so on. But where are they all, what are their respective functions, and how many city gates are there in the entire Chongqing city? Do these gates still exist? With these questions in mind, let's begin our itinerary for today.

Firstly, we need to know that Chongqing has a total of 17 city gates. Speaking of which, many friends from other places, especially those in plain areas, are puzzled. Perhaps you have been to many ancient cities, even imperial cities, which are basically equipped with four gates as standard. Southeast, northwest, one door at a time. Why does Chongqing have 17 gates in one city? Actually, this is related to the terrain of Chongqing. Chongqing is a city built on mountains, and it cannot present a very regular quadrilateral city pavilion, so the conventional four door model cannot meet the specific needs of Chongqing. This has led to Chongqing alone having 17 city gates of various sizes!

These city gates not only vary in size, but even have different openings and closures. Some are closed for a long time, some are open, and the specific distribution is nine open and eight closed! I will choose a few of the most representative ones to share with everyone. Chaotianmen, as the first gate in Chongqing, has an ancient saying that goes' a big dock welcomes officials and saints'. This clearly explains the significance of Chaotianmen for Chongqing city. It is the gateway to Chongqing and the largest among the 17. Near the river, it is the place where officials of all dynasties received imperial edicts!

Over time, all 17 gates in Chongqing have suffered varying degrees of damage. Now there are only three observable doors left, and among these three, the most well preserved one that tourists can enjoy and check-in is today's destination, Tongyuanmen. Tongyuanmen is located on the outskirts of old Chongqing city, and there is a saying that going out of Tongyuanmen means going out of the main city. In the 1920s, before the first mayor of Chongqing, Pan Wenhua, began expanding the city, Tongyuanmen had always been the symbol of separation between the city and the outside. And at that time, Chongqing was bustling inside the city, but depressed outside, and some people saw Tongyuanmen as the boundary between heaven and hell. Head west from the city gate and head straight to Futu Pass, which was a major transportation route to Chengdu back then.

And the historical story of Tongyuanmen goes far beyond that. Walking up from Tongyuanmen, we can see at least three stone tablets about the history of Tongyuanmen. The significant events that occurred here are clearly recorded above. Since the Three Kingdoms period in 226 AD, when Li Yan moved to protect Jiangzhou and expanded the construction of a new city, the scope of the new city has expanded to today's Tongyuanmen. In other words, at that time, Chongqing city was bounded by Tongyuanmen. Then in 1278, nearly 20 years after Mengge's death, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty made a comeback and launched a strong attack on Chongqing city. At that time, the defending general Zhang Jue swore to defend Chongqing to the death, and in the end, blood splattered all the way. The last one was in 1644, when the leader of the peasant uprising, Zhang Xianzhong, led his army to besiege Chongqing. After six days of fierce fighting, they finally broke through Tongyuanmen and occupied the eastern Sichuan fortress. This event is a very important historical event for the entire Chongqing, to the extent that many of Chongqing's legends and stories are related to Zhang Xianzhong. We will not introduce them one by one here, and will stop here.

As for the sculpture of Tongyuanmen, which battle is it? I'm not sure, but it's definitely one of the two battles mentioned above. And I am more inclined towards the scene involving Zhang Xianzhong. The reason is simple, because Zhang Xianzhong is very important to Chongqing, and the stories he left behind are very rich. So it is reasonable to make sculptures in his form.

Nowadays, Tongyuanmen has been listed as a national key cultural relic protection object, which shows its importance. Unfortunately, as the best preserved among the three existing gates in Chongqing, Tongyuan Gate is poorly understood by many tourists. The number of tourists here is far less than the popular tourist attraction Hongyadong. However, as a purely man-made attraction with some historical significance, the latter has been completely crushed, which also reflects a hint of sadness in modern tourism. Not only that, many friends who come to Tongyuan Gate actually don't even know that they can go up to Tongyuan Gate. Moreover, Tongyuanmen can walk to the famous mountain city trail. This also indicates that Tongyuanmen's promotion needs to be improved.

However, recently the government has made some improvements in the development and promotion of Tongyuanmen. The most significant feature is the construction of the only building above the gate of Tongyuan Gate - Tongyuan Tower. The Tongyuan Building is not a cultural relic, it is an antique style building constructed by the city in 2004. Although his qualifications are not old, his special geographical location still attracts a lot of attention. Nowadays, a Xinglin Bookstore has opened in Tongyuan Building. How can we play here? I have listed several gameplay options for everyone's reference.

1: It's rare to find a bit of tranquility in a bustling city. The rapid development of society has brought us convenience and speed. However, it took away the original tranquility. This tranquility is not only on the environmental level, but also on the spiritual level. A cup of clear tea, enjoying a peaceful afternoon, a cup of coffee, savoring the diversity of life. Stay quietly in the bookstore, choose a book, and read it carefully. In the book, there are you, me, and an infinite universe. Perhaps we don't seek a golden house in books, nor can we find the long lost Yan Ruyu, but books bring us a sense of peace. At present, perhaps these two things are more precious than those in Lu Xun's Sanwei Bookstore!

2: Restore the true history of Chongqing. This is also something I particularly admire myself. When we travel to Chongqing, we often face tourists and even young friends from Chongqing districts and counties who have little understanding of Chongqing. They are more focused on the internet famous attractions that have become popular through online media. But those places really have nothing to do with the history of Chongqing. Do you know the history of Monument to the people's Liberation? What are the functions of Chongqing city gates? What was the predecessor of WFC and how does it relate to the Chongqing allusion. Perhaps some people sneer and say, 'Why do I understand these things? I'm here to relax and just wander around.'. That's right, that's your way. But I think you really need to understand a city. If it's just a superficial visit, it's too superficial.

Xinglin Bookstore not only provides tea and snacks for diners. There are also lectures for everyone to better understand Chongqing city. It is reported that the guests who come here to share are all big shots in our city. They have professionals specializing in historical research, cultural studies, and outstanding figures from various industries. Their understanding and deep affection for Chongqing can better lead you to a deeper understanding of this city. It's better to come to the bookstore to listen to a storytelling or lecture than to be crowded with people, which makes people feel more honored and enjoy life!

3: Committed to creating another landmark in Yeyuzhong. At the beginning, it is mentioned that many people come to Tongyuan Gate without knowing that they can go up to the city tower, especially tourists who come to admire Tongyuan Gate at night. I would like to extend an invitation to everyone here. Xinglin Bookstore will be even more flavorful in the evening. Its tone has transformed from a bookstore to a bar. Of course, the bar I'm talking about is definitely not the kind of smoky place, it leans more towards cleanliness. They offer homemade cocktails and other beverages to give you a moment of rest after a busy day. The night in Chongqing is brightly lit, but finding a place to relieve fatigue and relax oneself is not easy. Xinglin Bookstore is committed to becoming another landmark in Yeyuzhong, which is not as bustling, noisy, or popular as internet celebrities, but closer to your heart!

Chongqing, as an internet celebrity, should possess cultural and humanistic attributes. I don't want to be a general observer, I'd rather stay in one place and wait for one person's taste!