中(zhong)(zhong)山亭原(yuan)為清朝中(zhong)(zhong)后期建筑,咸豐(feng)三年(nian)(1853年(nian))重修,當時的清提督(du)衙(ya)(ya)門(men)府(fu)位(wei)(wei)于今(jin)天(tian)的市青少年(nian)宮,中(zhong)(zhong)山亭位(wei)(wei)置駐扎著保衛衙(ya)(ya)門(men)府(fu)的“先(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)衛士營”,因此(ci)這一建筑就(jiu)叫做先(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳。1930年(nian)新建中(zhong)(zhong)山路,與先(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳主樓相連建起了附屬鐘樓,為紀念孫中(zhong)(zhong)山先(xian)(xian)生(sheng),此(ci)建筑正(zheng)式(shi)命名為中(zhong)(zhong)山亭。2002年(nian)初(chu),黃(huang)興(xing)北路拓(tuo)寬改造,長沙市政府(fu)將中(zhong)(zhong)山亭保留并按(an)照(zhao)“修舊如舊”的原(yuan)則進行(xing)修繕。2006年(nian)被公布(bu)為湖南(nan)省文物保護(hu)單位(wei)(wei)。
黃興路北口與(yu)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路相交的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)三角地(di)帶,名(ming)(ming)曰先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳,是(shi)(shi)長(chang)(chang)沙(sha)市(shi)區(qu)一(yi)(yi)處(chu)著名(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)歷史(shi)地(di)段。先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳正中(zhong)矗(chu)立著一(yi)(yi)座高(gao)十余米(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鐘(zhong)樓(lou),稱(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)紀念(nian)亭(ting),習稱(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭(ting),這是(shi)(shi)長(chang)(chang)沙(sha)市(shi)區(qu)保存至今(jin)較有(you)特色的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)幢近現(xian)代(dai)著名(ming)(ming)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)。清(qing)朝(chao)時(shi),此(ci)處(chu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)堵高(gao)厚的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)照(zhao)(zhao)壁(bi),北面正對湖南(nan)(nan)巡(xun)撫(fu)衙(ya)門前(qian)(qian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)轅門大(da)(da)坪(ping),照(zhao)(zhao)壁(bi)后即(ji)(ji)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)巡(xun)撫(fu)衙(ya)門衛隊(dui)先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)營房(fang),占地(di)約數百平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。辛亥革命后,清(qing)朝(chao)被推翻,原巡(xun)撫(fu)衙(ya)門改為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)湖南(nan)(nan)軍(jun)政府(fu)(fu),后又改為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)湖南(nan)(nan)督軍(jun)署、湖南(nan)(nan)省政府(fu)(fu),而照(zhao)(zhao)壁(bi)和先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳房(fang)屋則(ze)廢棄不治。1930年(nian)2月,中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路修筑(zhu)(zhu)竣工,省建(jian)(jian)設廳又決定圈用照(zhao)(zhao)壁(bi)前(qian)(qian)后之余坪(ping)及先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)鋒(feng)廳地(di),建(jian)(jian)設一(yi)(yi)座公(gong)(gong)(gong)園,并將照(zhao)(zhao)壁(bi)拆除,建(jian)(jian)一(yi)(yi)鐘(zhong)樓(lou)。工程于1930年(nian)3月破土,7月即(ji)(ji)告竣工。建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)后的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)(gong)園,因(yin)北向隔中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路正對省政府(fu)(fu)大(da)(da)門(今(jin)青少年(nian)宮西門),故稱(cheng)(cheng)省政府(fu)(fu)前(qian)(qian)坪(ping)公(gong)(gong)(gong)園。鐘(zhong)樓(lou)立于公(gong)(gong)(gong)園中(zhong)央,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)高(gao)16米(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)西式(shi)方(fang)形(xing)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu),共(gong)5層,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)紀念(nian)偉大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)革命先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)驅孫中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)先(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)生(sheng)(sheng),命名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)紀念(nian)亭(ting)。附(fu)樓(lou)南(nan)(nan)向3層。在此(ci)之前(qian)(qian),長(chang)(chang)沙(sha)舊習相沿,向以(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)天(tian)(tian)心閣城(cheng)樓(lou)午(wu)炮為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)標(biao)準時(shi)間(jian)(jian)(jian),每至午(wu)時(shi),霹(pi)靂一(yi)(yi)聲,驚天(tian)(tian)動地(di),于人(ren)民生(sheng)(sheng)活(huo)殊多(duo)妨礙。鐘(zhong)樓(lou)建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)后,裝上了(le)從(cong)德國(guo)購進的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)電(dian)動標(biao)準時(shi)鐘(zhong)。人(ren)們從(cong)此(ci)經過(guo),舉目遙望,即(ji)(ji)可(ke)獲知時(shi)間(jian)(jian)(jian)。所以(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi),中(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭(ting)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)又是(shi)(shi)長(chang)(chang)沙(sha)城(cheng)市(shi)使(shi)用公(gong)(gong)(gong)共(gong)標(biao)準時(shi)鐘(zhong)之始。鐘(zhong)樓(lou)之后掘有(you)橢圓形(xing)水(shui)池(chi),深2米(mi),周圍砌磚欄,間(jian)(jian)(jian)以(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)綠釉瓷柱(zhu)。池(chi)外為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)草(cao)地(di),間(jian)(jian)(jian)植花木,而以(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)水(shui)泥矮柱(zhu)貫(guan)鐵鏈(lian)以(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)環之。(見圖二)。在當時(shi)來說,這座公(gong)(gong)(gong)園鐘(zhong)樓(lou)高(gao)矗(chu),池(chi)水(shui)清(qing)悠,紅花綠草(cao),尚不失為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)處(chu)城(cheng)市(shi)景觀。1932年(nian),市(shi)立民教育館設于該(gai)處(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)附(fu)樓(lou),下(xia)層為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)書報閱(yue)覽室和游藝室,中(zhong)層為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)辦公(gong)(gong)(gong)室與(yu)教室,上層系平(ping)臺,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)民眾(zhong)茶園。因(yin)地(di)點適中(zhong)、交通便利,每天(tian)(tian)來館民眾(zhong)達400人(ren)以(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)上。
自清初以來三百余年(nian)(nian),先鋒廳因正對湖南(nan)最高軍(jun)政(zheng)機關大(da)(da)門,目擊了(le)發(fa)生在(zai)這里的(de)一(yi)系(xi)列重大(da)(da)歷史(shi)事(shi)件,如1910年(nian)(nian)震(zhen)驚中(zhong)外的(de)搶米(mi)風潮(chao),1911年(nian)(nian)的(de)辛亥革命、湖南(nan)反正,1922年(nian)(nian)毛(mao)澤東領導(dao)的(de)長沙第一(yi)次(ci)工(gong)人(ren)運動高潮(chao),可以說是(shi)世事(shi)蒼茫,飽經(jing)風雨。而高踞于(yu)此處的(de)中(zhong)山亭(ting)也歷盡滄桑(sang)。1938年(nian)(nian)長沙大(da)(da)火,吞沒全城;其后(hou)發(fa)生的(de)中(zhong)日四次(ci)長沙會戰,炮火連(lian)天,中(zhong)山亭(ting)依然昂首屹立。中(zhong)山亭(ting)又(you)是(shi)近70年(nian)(nian)來長沙城市變遷的(de)歷史(shi)見證(zheng)。修(xiu)建中(zhong)山亭(ting)的(de)當年(nian)(nian),曾在(zai)其南(nan)向修(xiu)了(le)一(yi)條(tiao)10米(mi)寬的(de)馬(ma)路,通往吉祥巷;又(you)于(yu)兩旁各修(xiu)一(yi)支線,與中(zhong)山路相連(lian)。1948年(nian)(nian)修(xiu)筑(zhu)黃興中(zhong)路,先鋒廳又(you)與八角(jiao)亭(ting)、司門口(kou)連(lian)成一(yi)線,成為通途(tu)。
2013年(nian)(nian)10月21日,歷經(jing)近(jin)一年(nian)(nian)的“修(xiu)舊如(ru)舊”后,長沙市中(zhong)山(shan)亭現已重新開放。
此次修繕恢復原(yuan)中山亭二層的結構(gou),拆除了(le)原(yuan)來3.4米(mi)(mi)、6.6米(mi)(mi)兩個標(biao)高(gao)(gao)處的樓(lou)面,在5.85米(mi)(mi)標(biao)高(gao)(gao)處設置鋼筋混凝土樓(lou)板。同時,將樓(lou)梯(ti)起步恢復到進大門左邊靠北向外墻處,與始建時的位置一致。實(shi)施了(le)“亮化(hua)”工程,在一樓(lou)、二樓(lou)、塔頂安裝了(le)多盞(zhan)投光(guang)(guang)燈(deng)。夜(ye)色之下(xia),中山亭樓(lou)房的光(guang)(guang)芒與旁邊高(gao)(gao)樓(lou)的燈(deng)光(guang)(guang)交相(xiang)輝映,甚為(wei)靚麗。
正門前坪,左右(you)各有一(yi)棵(ke)樟(zhang)樹(shu),右(you)邊的樟(zhang)樹(shu)下(xia)立(li)著兩塊大(da)石頭(tou),上面(mian)分別刻著“平等”“博愛”。挨著亭(ting)子的右(you)邊是(shi)排成兩列的雪松(song),雪松(song)的后面(mian)是(shi)一(yi)棵(ke)老樟(zhang)樹(shu),給中(zhong)山亭(ting)增添(tian)了肅穆(mu)之感(gan)。
這(zhe)次提質改造較大(da)的(de)亮點(dian),便是(shi)新增加了一(yi)座孫中山銅像(xiang)。銅像(xiang)屹立在(zai)中山亭的(de)正前(qian)門(men)外(wai),鼻子挺(ting)拔、嘴唇緊閉;一(yi)身中山裝、腳穿大(da)頭皮鞋(xie);右手(shou)拄著(zhu)文(wen)明杖,左手(shou)握著(zhu)一(yi)卷《建國方略(lve)》;眼睛深(shen)邃、目光堅毅。