中山(shan)亭原為(wei)(wei)(wei)清朝中后期建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu),咸豐三年(nian)(1853年(nian))重修(xiu),當時(shi)的(de)(de)清提督衙門府位于(yu)今天(tian)的(de)(de)市青少年(nian)宮,中山(shan)亭位置駐扎著保(bao)(bao)衛(wei)衙門府的(de)(de)“先鋒衛(wei)士營(ying)”,因此這一建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)就(jiu)叫做先鋒廳。1930年(nian)新建(jian)(jian)(jian)中山(shan)路,與先鋒廳主(zhu)樓相連建(jian)(jian)(jian)起(qi)了(le)附屬鐘樓,為(wei)(wei)(wei)紀念孫中山(shan)先生,此建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)正(zheng)式命(ming)名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)中山(shan)亭。2002年(nian)初,黃興北路拓寬(kuan)改造(zao),長沙市政府將中山(shan)亭保(bao)(bao)留并按照“修(xiu)舊(jiu)如舊(jiu)”的(de)(de)原則進行修(xiu)繕(shan)。2006年(nian)被公布為(wei)(wei)(wei)湖(hu)南省文物保(bao)(bao)護單位。
黃興路(lu)北(bei)(bei)口與中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)路(lu)相交(jiao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)三角地帶,名(ming)曰先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)(feng)廳(ting)(ting),是(shi)長(chang)沙(sha)市區一(yi)處著名(ming)的(de)(de)(de)(de)歷史地段。先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)(feng)廳(ting)(ting)正(zheng)(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)矗(chu)立著一(yi)座高(gao)(gao)十余米的(de)(de)(de)(de)鐘(zhong)樓(lou)(lou),稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)紀念(nian)亭(ting),習(xi)稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)亭(ting),這是(shi)長(chang)沙(sha)市區保存至今較有(you)特色的(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)幢(chuang)近現代(dai)著名(ming)建(jian)筑。清朝時(shi),此處為(wei)一(yi)堵高(gao)(gao)厚的(de)(de)(de)(de)照(zhao)(zhao)壁,北(bei)(bei)面正(zheng)(zheng)對湖(hu)南(nan)巡(xun)撫衙門前的(de)(de)(de)(de)轅門大(da)(da)坪,照(zhao)(zhao)壁后(hou)即(ji)(ji)為(wei)巡(xun)撫衙門衛隊先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)(feng)廳(ting)(ting)的(de)(de)(de)(de)營房(fang),占地約(yue)數百平(ping)方米。辛亥革(ge)命(ming)后(hou),清朝被(bei)推翻(fan),原(yuan)巡(xun)撫衙門改為(wei)湖(hu)南(nan)軍政府,后(hou)又(you)改為(wei)湖(hu)南(nan)督(du)軍署、湖(hu)南(nan)省政府,而照(zhao)(zhao)壁和先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)(feng)廳(ting)(ting)房(fang)屋則廢棄不(bu)治。1930年(nian)2月,中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)路(lu)修筑竣(jun)工,省建(jian)設廳(ting)(ting)又(you)決定圈用(yong)照(zhao)(zhao)壁前后(hou)之(zhi)(zhi)余坪及先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)(feng)廳(ting)(ting)地,建(jian)設一(yi)座公(gong)(gong)園(yuan),并將照(zhao)(zhao)壁拆(chai)除,建(jian)一(yi)鐘(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)。工程于(yu)(yu)1930年(nian)3月破土,7月即(ji)(ji)告竣(jun)工。建(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)后(hou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)園(yuan),因北(bei)(bei)向(xiang)隔中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)路(lu)正(zheng)(zheng)對省政府大(da)(da)門(今青(qing)少年(nian)宮西門),故稱(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)省政府前坪公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)。鐘(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)立于(yu)(yu)公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)中(zhong)(zhong)央(yang),為(wei)一(yi)高(gao)(gao)16米的(de)(de)(de)(de)西式(shi)方形(xing)建(jian)筑,共(gong)5層(ceng)(ceng),為(wei)紀念(nian)偉大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)革(ge)命(ming)先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)驅孫中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)生,命(ming)名(ming)為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)紀念(nian)亭(ting)。附(fu)樓(lou)(lou)南(nan)向(xiang)3層(ceng)(ceng)。在此之(zhi)(zhi)前,長(chang)沙(sha)舊習(xi)相沿(yan),向(xiang)以(yi)天心(xin)閣城樓(lou)(lou)午(wu)炮為(wei)標(biao)準時(shi)間,每至午(wu)時(shi),霹靂(li)一(yi)聲,驚天動地,于(yu)(yu)人(ren)民(min)生活殊多妨(fang)礙。鐘(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)建(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)后(hou),裝上(shang)了(le)從德國購進(jin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)電動標(biao)準時(shi)鐘(zhong)。人(ren)們從此經(jing)過,舉目遙望(wang),即(ji)(ji)可獲知時(shi)間。所(suo)以(yi),中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)亭(ting)的(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)又(you)是(shi)長(chang)沙(sha)城市使用(yong)公(gong)(gong)共(gong)標(biao)準時(shi)鐘(zhong)之(zhi)(zhi)始。鐘(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)掘有(you)橢(tuo)圓形(xing)水池,深2米,周(zhou)圍砌(qi)磚欄,間以(yi)綠釉瓷柱。池外為(wei)草地,間植花木,而以(yi)水泥矮柱貫(guan)鐵(tie)鏈(lian)以(yi)環之(zhi)(zhi)。(見(jian)圖(tu)二)。在當時(shi)來說,這座公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)鐘(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)高(gao)(gao)矗(chu),池水清悠(you),紅花綠草,尚不(bu)失為(wei)一(yi)處城市景觀。1932年(nian),市立民(min)教(jiao)(jiao)育館設于(yu)(yu)該處的(de)(de)(de)(de)附(fu)樓(lou)(lou),下(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)書報閱覽室和游藝室,中(zhong)(zhong)層(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)辦公(gong)(gong)室與教(jiao)(jiao)室,上(shang)層(ceng)(ceng)系平(ping)臺,為(wei)民(min)眾茶園(yuan)。因地點適中(zhong)(zhong)、交(jiao)通便利(li),每天來館民(min)眾達400人(ren)以(yi)上(shang)。
自清初以來三(san)百(bai)余年(nian)(nian)(nian),先鋒(feng)廳(ting)因正(zheng)對湖(hu)南最高(gao)軍政機關大門,目擊了發(fa)生在這里的(de)一(yi)系(xi)列重大歷史事件(jian),如1910年(nian)(nian)(nian)震驚(jing)中(zhong)外的(de)搶(qiang)米風(feng)潮(chao),1911年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)辛(xin)亥革(ge)命(ming)、湖(hu)南反正(zheng),1922年(nian)(nian)(nian)毛澤東領(ling)導的(de)長(chang)沙(sha)第一(yi)次工人(ren)運(yun)動高(gao)潮(chao),可(ke)以說是世事蒼茫(mang),飽(bao)經風(feng)雨。而高(gao)踞于此處的(de)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭(ting)(ting)也歷盡(jin)滄桑。1938年(nian)(nian)(nian)長(chang)沙(sha)大火,吞沒全城(cheng);其(qi)后發(fa)生的(de)中(zhong)日四(si)次長(chang)沙(sha)會戰(zhan),炮火連(lian)(lian)天,中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭(ting)(ting)依然昂首屹立。中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭(ting)(ting)又是近(jin)70年(nian)(nian)(nian)來長(chang)沙(sha)城(cheng)市變遷(qian)的(de)歷史見證(zheng)。修(xiu)建(jian)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭(ting)(ting)的(de)當年(nian)(nian)(nian),曾在其(qi)南向(xiang)修(xiu)了一(yi)條10米寬的(de)馬路(lu),通往吉祥(xiang)巷;又于兩旁各修(xiu)一(yi)支(zhi)線(xian),與(yu)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路(lu)相連(lian)(lian)。1948年(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)筑黃興(xing)中(zhong)路(lu),先鋒(feng)廳(ting)又與(yu)八角亭(ting)(ting)、司門口(kou)連(lian)(lian)成(cheng)一(yi)線(xian),成(cheng)為通途。
2013年10月21日,歷經近一年的“修舊如舊”后(hou),長(chang)沙市(shi)中山亭現已(yi)重新開放。
此次修(xiu)繕恢復原(yuan)中(zhong)山(shan)亭二(er)(er)層的結構,拆除了(le)原(yuan)來3.4米(mi)、6.6米(mi)兩個標高處(chu)的樓面,在(zai)5.85米(mi)標高處(chu)設置鋼(gang)筋混凝土樓板。同時(shi),將樓梯(ti)起步恢復到進大門左邊靠(kao)北向外墻處(chu),與(yu)始(shi)建時(shi)的位置一致。實施了(le)“亮化”工程,在(zai)一樓、二(er)(er)樓、塔頂安裝了(le)多(duo)盞投光燈。夜色之下,中(zhong)山(shan)亭樓房的光芒與(yu)旁邊高樓的燈光交相輝映,甚(shen)為靚麗。
正門(men)前坪(ping),左(zuo)右(you)各有(you)一棵樟樹,右(you)邊的樟樹下立著(zhu)(zhu)兩塊大石頭(tou),上面(mian)分(fen)別刻著(zhu)(zhu)“平等”“博愛”。挨著(zhu)(zhu)亭(ting)(ting)子的右(you)邊是排成兩列的雪松,雪松的后面(mian)是一棵老(lao)樟樹,給(gei)中山(shan)亭(ting)(ting)增(zeng)添了肅穆之感。
這(zhe)次提質(zhi)改造(zao)較大的亮點,便是(shi)新增加了一座孫中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)銅像。銅像屹立在中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)亭的正前門外(wai),鼻子挺拔、嘴唇緊閉;一身(shen)中(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)裝、腳(jiao)穿大頭(tou)皮鞋;右手(shou)拄著(zhu)文明杖,左手(shou)握著(zhu)一卷《建國方略(lve)》;眼睛(jing)深邃、目光堅毅。