中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)共有(you)內(nei)、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、外(wai)三道(dao)(dao)城(cheng)(cheng)。外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)周長(chang)約30公(gong)里(li),設四(si)門(men)(men),每座城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)以內(nei)都(dou)有(you)一(yi)條(tiao)筆直(zhi)的(de)干道(dao)(dao),縱橫(heng)交錯(cuo)。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間一(yi)道(dao)(dao)為(wei)(wei)禁垣(yuan),周長(chang)7.85公(gong)里(li),平(ping)(ping)面呈長(chang)方形(xing),四(si)面設4門(men)(men)。即南(nan)曰(yue)承天(tian)門(men)(men)、北曰(yue)北安門(men)(men)、東曰(yue)東安門(men)(men)、西(xi)曰(yue)西(xi)安門(men)(men)。禁垣(yuan)以內(nei)為(wei)(wei)寬約80米的(de)護城(cheng)(cheng)河,被(bei)護城(cheng)(cheng)河環繞的(de)才是內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng);周長(chang)3.68公(gong)里(li),平(ping)(ping)面近方形(xing),占地(di)84萬(wan)平(ping)(ping)方米;墻高15米,全(quan)為(wei)(wei)長(chang)40、寬20、厚11厘米的(de)特(te)制大(da)(da)磚所砌。在(zai)(zai)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)十(shi)分明(ming)(ming)顯地(di)存在(zai)(zai)著(zhu)一(yi)條(tiao)縱貫全(quan)城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)北的(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸(zhou)(zhou)線。這條(tiao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸(zhou)(zhou)線南(nan)起(qi)外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)洪武門(men)(men),北到外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)正北門(men)(men)(未建(jian)(jian)(jian)成),全(quan)長(chang)近7公(gong)里(li)。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)的(de)各(ge)種(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑無不規(gui)整對稱地(di)排列在(zai)(zai)這條(tiao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸(zhou)(zhou)線的(de)兩(liang)側。居(ju)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)者為(wei)(wei)三大(da)(da)殿(dian),其左、右(you)(you)分別(bie)為(wei)(wei)東、西(xi)二宮,向兩(liang)翼分別(bie)為(wei)(wei)文(wen)華、武英二殿(dian)。其前為(wei)(wei)奉(feng)天(tian)門(men)(men),后為(wei)(wei)后三宮。午(wu)門(men)(men)以南(nan),左為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)書(shu)省、太廟(miao),右(you)(you)為(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)都(dou)督府,御史臺(tai)、社稷。明(ming)(ming)洪武八年(nian)(1375年(nian)),“罷中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)都(dou)役作”。后因取材(cai)建(jian)(jian)(jian)龍興(xing)寺、歷戰火(huo)等(deng)原因,城(cheng)(cheng)墻及宮殿(dian)被(bei)大(da)(da)量(liang)毀壞,至(zhi)20世紀70年(nian)代初,僅剩殘存的(de)午(wu)門(men)(men)、西(xi)華門(men)(men)臺(tai)基及1100米長(chang)的(de)城(cheng)(cheng)墻,現(xian)正陸續(xu)修復中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
中都城原有內、中、外三道城,共有宮殿(dian)、樓臺、門闕(que)、壇廟、第宅(zhai)、館舍等各種(zhong)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)9000多間(jian),其建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)面(mian)積達84萬(wan)多平方米。明(ming)(ming)代雕刻(ke)。皇陵(ling)(ling)在安徽鳳陽太平鄉。是明(ming)(ming)太祖朱元(yuan)璋的父母(mu)及(ji)兄長陵(ling)(ling)墓前石(shi)(shi)(shi)雕群(qun)像。洪武元(yuan)年(1368)始建(jian),洪武十(shi)年建(jian)成(cheng)。有周(zhou)(zhou)七十(shi)五丈(zhang),磚城周(zhou)(zhou)六里, 土城周(zhou)(zhou)二(er)十(shi)八里,神道入口處有二(er)碑亭。文(wen)臣、武將(jiang)、內侍、文(wen)官石(shi)(shi)(shi)雕像,各高丈(zhang)余;石(shi)(shi)(shi)馬、石(shi)(shi)(shi)獅(shi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)虎、石(shi)(shi)(shi)羊、石(shi)(shi)(shi)麒麟等三十(shi)六對(現存(cun)三十(shi)四(si)對),均(jun)比實物大三倍(bei)。
六百余年來,中(zhong)都(dou)建筑幾經(jing)滄桑(sang),然察其(qi)布局、遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址、遺(yi)(yi)(yi)物,仍十分(fen)壯觀。午門、西華門和近1100米(mi)(mi)長的(de)城墻至今保存完好。寬80米(mi)(mi)的(de)護城河基本(ben)保持原貌。午門門券兩側及(ji)樓(lou)臺四周的(de)須(xu)彌座上,連續不斷鑲嵌著龍、鳳、牡丹、芍藥、荷花(hua)、云朵、方勝等(deng)浮雕圖案,技藝精湛,華麗(li)無比(bi)。特別是奉天殿之側的(de)五個巨型(xing)蟠龍石礎,每塊2.7米(mi)(mi)見方,高1.7米(mi)(mi),面積7.3平方米(mi)(mi),刻(ke)工(gong)精細,形象生動。有關(guan)專(zhuan)家、學者對其(qi)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址都(dou)予以高度評價,已故(gu)安徽師范大(da)學教授盧村(cun)禾稱贊明(ming)中(zhong)都(dou)故(gu)城為“東方巴比(bi)倫”。一九八(ba)二(er)年被列為全(quan)國文(wen)物保護單位。