Laodongmen in Nanjing

Laomendong is a historical and cultural block in Nanjing, located in Qinhuai District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, to the east of Zhonghua Gate. It is called "Mendong" (Gate East) because it lies east of the southern gate of Nanjing (i.e., Zhonghua Gate), and is opposite to Laomenxi (Old Gate West). As an important part of the Confuci). As an important part of the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai Scenic Belt in Nanjing, it was once one of the most developed areas for commerce and residence in Nanjing in history, covering an area of about 150,000 square meters.

Highlights of Laomendong

Junhui Study · Pioneer Bookstore

The letter interaction area of the Pioneer Bookstore

Located at the west gate entrance of Laomendong (Old Gate East) in Nanjing, Junhui Study · Pioneer Bookstore consists of a wooden reading pavilion, a black stone screen wall and a typical Huizhou-style small building. The two characters "Junhui" mean "great kindness" or "profound benefit". Historically, this place served as a resting and reading spot for students and imperial exam candidates. Today, it has joined hands with Pioneer Bookstore, continuing its cultural function. The store offers a rich variety of books. Given that many visitors come with their families, books about Nanjing's culture and tourism account for a relatively large proportion. On the for a relatively large proportion. On the second floor, there is a dedicated children's book and picture book area. Additionally, the floor features a winding corridor and poetry calligraphy copies for visitors to appreciate. Moreover, the store sells a wide range of cultural and creative products themed around Nanjing and bearing Pioneer Bookstore's unique style, such as sweet-scented osmanthus wine, music boxes and Dougong (wooden brackets in traditional Chinese architecture) building blocks. Here, visitors can experience the cross-boundary integration of antique elegance and the "pioneering" spirit.

Jinling Art Museum

The oil paintings exhibited at the art gallery

One of the key cultural spots in Laomendong (Old Gate East) is the Jinling Art Museum. It collects lots of artworks, shows different kinds of art forms and styles, and gives visitors a place to enjoy and feel the charm. Various art exhibitions and cultural events are held here regularly, drawing many art lovers and tourists. At this museum, people can enjoy the best of art, from ancient times to now, both in China and other countries. They can also feel how art mixes with history and culture, and get better at understanding and judging art.

Mahua FunAge Laomendong Immersive Theater

Mahua FunAge Laomendong Immersive Theater is China’s first panoramic social venue for puzzle-solving and interaction. It has put together a top team to try and give audiences a great gaming experience. The theater has always gotten good reviews because of its high-quality original content and immersive experience style. It also won the "Lingjing · 2024 Outstanding Case of Immersive Performing Arts Project" award. In summer 2025, the theater started the "600 Yuan for 3 Shows" activity. It also upgraded its stage settings and rebuilt the sound system—all to make a very sound system—all to make a very powerful sense of immersion. Visitors can fully get into the plot here, talk and play with the actors, and have a special, memorable theater experience.

Ming Dynasty City Wall

The Ming City Wall Ruins

Laomendong (Old Gate East) isendong (Old Gate East) is close to the Ming Dynasty City Wall. Visitors can walk straight along Gutong Lane—the main street of Laomendong—to its end and climb up the wall. As the longest, largest, and most authentically preserved ancient city wall in the world, Nanjing’s Ming Dynasty City Wall still stands firm despite wars in history. Standing on the wall, visitors can enjoy a full view of the old southern part of Nanjing, look far at Purple Mountain, and feel the far at Purple Mountain, and feel the historical charm and vicissitudes of this ancient capital. Every brick on the wall has inscriptions, which bear witness to the traces of history. Besides, during festivals like the Spring Festival, huge Spring Festival couplets are hung on both sides of couplets are hung on both sides of the city gate, and strings of red lanterns flutter in the wind, creating a strong festive atmosphere.

Educational Value

Laomendong’s architecture keeps the residential features of Nanjing’s southern old town—there’s a saying for it: "grey bricks, small tiles, horse-head walls; winding corridors, hanging flowers, lattice windows winding corridors, hanging flowers, lattice windows." It also adds some proper modern changes." It also adds some proper modern changes, like fixing old buildings and designing new spaces. Visitors can see how traditional houses use patios to let in light and air, and how horse-head walls stop fire and reduce noise. This helps stop fire and reduce noise. This helps them understand the spatial wisdom ancient people used to fit their environment. They can also compare "old building restoration" and "new building design," and think about "how to protect traditional architecture style while meeting modern needs." This clear understanding of "mixing tradition and modernity" is very useful for building people’s sense of architectural beauty and cultural protection.

Activities to do at Laomendong

Immersive Theater Experience: The Detective of Fangcheng City at Mahua FunAge Lag City at Mahua FunAge Laomendong Immersive Theater is China’s first panoramic social venue for puzzle-solving and interaction. Players can walk around a space over 2,000 square meters, pick different plot lines, talk and interact with actors, and push the story ahead. Technologies like a dynamic plot engine and a real-time live broadcast interaction system are used in the theater. Every month, 15% of its interactive content is updated to make sure the experience stays fresh all the time.

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Experience： The ICH Inheritance Center is located> The ICH Inheritance Center is located at No. 78 Santiaoying, Laomendong. It exhibits 16 ICH items, among exhibits 16 ICH items, among which Tiangong · Jinling Shadow Puppet Hall has 2 representative inheritors of shadow puppetry. Visitors can learn about the shadow puppetry culture here, watch shadow puppet shows, and even make shadow puppets on-site. The experience fee is 128 yuan per person (for puppet-making). For those who only want to watch the show and join on-site interactions, the fee is on-site interactions, the fee is 50 yuan per person.