The Shanghai Yuan Dynasty Water Gate Museum, located at No 619 West Yanchang Road, is the largest, most intricately crafted, and best-preserved of its kind from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), earning recognition as one of the "top 10 archaeological discoveries in China" in 2006.

Spanning approximately 1,500 square meters, the structure features a symmetrical design. Its construction incorporates over 10,000 wooden piles, beams, planks, and stone slabs, all secured with ingot-shaped iron tenons.

The water gate ruins were discovered in 2001 during the construction of a commercial building. Through meticulous exploration and document verification, archaeologists confirmed that it was a Yuan Dynasty water gate connected to the Wusong River, overseen by the renowned hydraulic expert and artist Ren Renfa. Historical records reveal that Ren built six stone water gates along the tributaries of the Wusong River, with this site being the only one fully explored and preserved.

The water gate is built with a four-layer impermeable structure to prevent any leakage. The tightly fitted bluestone foundation, sourced from Taihu Lake, is both hard and water-resistant. The iron tenons between the stone blocks tighten under water pressure, ensuring structural stability.

Visitors can walk along the glass walkway in the exhibition hall, offering a view of the water engineering marvel from over 700 years ago, located more than 7 meters below the surface. The enduring wooden piles and stone slabs stand as a testament to the skillful craftsmanship and ingenuity of ancient hydraulic engineering.

Source: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Putuo district committee at "shputuo"