中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)(dou)(dou)(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)共有(you)內(nei)、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、外(wai)三(san)道城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長約30公里,設(she)四(si)門,每座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門以(yi)(yi)內(nei)都(dou)(dou)(dou)(dou)有(you)一(yi)條(tiao)筆直的(de)(de)干道,縱(zong)橫(heng)交錯。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間一(yi)道為(wei)禁垣,周(zhou)長7.85公里,平面呈長方(fang)(fang)形(xing),四(si)面設(she)4門。即南(nan)曰(yue)承天(tian)門、北(bei)曰(yue)北(bei)安門、東(dong)(dong)曰(yue)東(dong)(dong)安門、西(xi)曰(yue)西(xi)安門。禁垣以(yi)(yi)內(nei)為(wei)寬約80米(mi)的(de)(de)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,被(bei)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河環繞的(de)(de)才(cai)是內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng);周(zhou)長3.68公里,平面近(jin)方(fang)(fang)形(xing),占地(di)(di)84萬平方(fang)(fang)米(mi);墻(qiang)高15米(mi),全為(wei)長40、寬20、厚11厘(li)米(mi)的(de)(de)特制大磚(zhuan)所砌。在(zai)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)(dou)(dou)(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)十分明顯地(di)(di)存(cun)在(zai)著一(yi)條(tiao)縱(zong)貫(guan)全城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)北(bei)的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸線。這條(tiao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸線南(nan)起(qi)外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)洪武門,北(bei)到外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)正北(bei)門(未建成),全長近(jin)7公里。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)(dou)(dou)(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)的(de)(de)各(ge)種建筑無不規整對稱地(di)(di)排列在(zai)這條(tiao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸線的(de)(de)兩側。居中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)者為(wei)三(san)大殿,其(qi)左、右分別為(wei)東(dong)(dong)、西(xi)二宮(gong),向兩翼(yi)分別為(wei)文華(hua)、武英二殿。其(qi)前為(wei)奉(feng)天(tian)門,后為(wei)后三(san)宮(gong)。午(wu)門以(yi)(yi)南(nan),左為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)書省、太(tai)廟,右為(wei)大都(dou)(dou)(dou)(dou)督府,御(yu)史臺、社稷。明洪武八年(1375年),“罷(ba)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)(dou)(dou)(dou)役作”。后因取材(cai)建龍興寺、歷戰火等(deng)原因,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)及(ji)(ji)宮(gong)殿被(bei)大量毀壞,至20世紀70年代初,僅剩殘存(cun)的(de)(de)午(wu)門、西(xi)華(hua)門臺基及(ji)(ji)1100米(mi)長的(de)(de)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang),現正陸續修復中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
中都城原有內、中、外三道城,共有宮殿、樓臺、門闕(que)、壇廟、第宅、館舍等各種建筑9000多(duo)間,其建筑面積達84萬多(duo)平(ping)方(fang)米。明代雕(diao)刻。皇(huang)陵在安(an)徽鳳陽太平(ping)鄉(xiang)。是明太祖(zu)朱元璋(zhang)的父(fu)母及兄長陵墓前石(shi)(shi)(shi)雕(diao)群像。洪(hong)武(wu)(wu)元年(nian)(1368)始建,洪(hong)武(wu)(wu)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)建成。有周七(qi)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五丈,磚(zhuan)城周六里, 土城周二十(shi)(shi)(shi)八里,神(shen)道入口(kou)處有二碑(bei)亭。文(wen)臣、武(wu)(wu)將、內侍、文(wen)官石(shi)(shi)(shi)雕(diao)像,各高(gao)丈余;石(shi)(shi)(shi)馬、石(shi)(shi)(shi)獅、石(shi)(shi)(shi)虎、石(shi)(shi)(shi)羊、石(shi)(shi)(shi)麒麟等三十(shi)(shi)(shi)六對(dui)(現(xian)存三十(shi)(shi)(shi)四對(dui)),均比(bi)實(shi)物大三倍。
六百(bai)余(yu)年(nian)(nian)來,中都(dou)建筑幾經(jing)滄桑,然(ran)察其布局、遺(yi)址、遺(yi)物,仍十分壯觀。午門、西華門和近1100米長的(de)城墻(qiang)至今保存完(wan)好。寬(kuan)80米的(de)護(hu)城河基本保持原貌。午門門券兩(liang)側及樓臺四周的(de)須(xu)彌(mi)座上,連續不(bu)斷鑲嵌著龍(long)、鳳、牡丹、芍藥、荷花、云(yun)朵、方(fang)(fang)勝等(deng)浮雕圖(tu)案,技藝精(jing)湛,華麗無比。特(te)別是奉天殿(dian)之側的(de)五個巨型蟠龍(long)石礎,每塊2.7米見方(fang)(fang),高1.7米,面積7.3平方(fang)(fang)米,刻工精(jing)細,形象生動。有關專(zhuan)家、學(xue)者(zhe)對其遺(yi)址都(dou)予以高度評價,已故安徽師范大學(xue)教授盧村禾稱(cheng)贊(zan)明中都(dou)故城為“東方(fang)(fang)巴(ba)比倫”。一九八二(er)年(nian)(nian)被(bei)列(lie)為全國文(wen)物保護(hu)單位(wei)。