In 111 BC, the first city alone the Liu River valley was established in Tanzhong County, at the foot of the Jiahe Mountain. Since then, Liuzhou has a history of more than 2100 years.

  According to historical records, Liuzhou was first surrounded by rammed earth walls that were built during the Tang Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, when the city was rebuilt, the boundaries were expanded, and materials for those city walls were changed to bricks. During the Jiajing period, the outer Luo Town was added. Till the end of the Qing Dynasty the basic pattern of Liuzhou city was formed. To adapt to the straight and flat terrain of the north side of the river sides, five gates were opened in the ancient Liuzhou city. In the early years of the

Republic of China, an additional gate was opened to facilitate traffic. As the time goes by, the city walls and gates were demolished one after another, leaving the East Gate Tower as a landmark of the ancient city that has survived six hundred years of history.

  Many artists in history have been falling in love with the ancient city of Liuzhou: Liu Zongyuan climbed the tower and sighed "sea and sky are sorrowful thoughts", Ming Taizu remotely endowed with caring works, Xu Xiake described the prosperity of the East Gate, the Yongli Emperor was in and out in hurry of wars...... With all of those stories, the citadel of Liuzhou contains deep historical and cultural information.

  The east gate of the ancient city not only has the advantage of a convenient location, but also contains the meaning of auspicious celebration. In ancient times, people of Liuzhou would go through the gate as a sign of happiness. Therefore the East Gate earned the name of "happy door”.