Why were some gates in Chongqing’s city wall kept closed?

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Chongqing Skyscrapers at night in central Chongqing, China.

Following the restoration of the city wall in 1663, Chongqing’s wall featured a total of 17 gates. Of these, 8 gates were kept closed on the advice of geomancers—practitioners of divination—while the remaining 9 gates were left open to facilitate traffic.1

These practices were rooted in the tradition of fengshui, a system of architectural siting that sought to harmonize human structures with the flow of the earth’s vital energy (qi). By consulting these specialists, city planners aimed to ensure the auspicious placement of structures and manage the flow of energy, as such considerations were historically viewed as critical to the fortune and well-being of the city and its inhabitants.2