JINLING CHANGLEFANG

JINLING CHANGLEFANG is located at No.132 Changle Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, between Confucius Temple and Laomen East. The site was originally a factory in the 1990s and a Walmart from 2001 to 2020. After renovation, it has become East China’s first immersive Ming Dynasty cultural space. The project paints with light and inks with shadow, recreating the six century grace of Jinling. Abandoning harsh cool white light, the lighting adopts warm gold and vermilion red as its main tones. Nearly a hundred Ming style palace lanterns hang high; flying eaves, bracket sets, grey tiles and red walls exude classic elegance under warm light. In the central courtyard, three giant dynamic carp lanterns circle the Dragon Gate Bridge, vividly presenting the “carp leaping over the dragon gate” imperial examination imagery, forming a signature light and shadow IP. An intelligent dimming system supports four modes: daily, night scene, event and security, achieving crisp brightness by day and splendid radiance by night. The lighting guides the imperial examination storyline from “heading for the exam” to “attaining scholarly honor”: dragon pillars, inscribed plaques and Kuixing Pavilion are highlighted by focused spotlights; streets and passages are bathed in soft even light to guide visitor flow; stores and corners feature balanced light and shade. From the entrance to the rooftop garden, each step reveals a new scene, making every stroll a journey through time. The old factory compound is reborn into a flourishing Ming style landscape: warm lamps glow on vermilion walls, carps frolic amid light and shadow, and palace lanterns illuminate the long alleys. There is no stiff antique imitation, only a profound resonance between light, shadow and culture, letting the six hundred year charm of Jinling gently revive in the night. No time travel is needed – step in and you are instantly transported back to the Ming Dynasty.