鹽城，始名鹽瀆，建于漢武帝元狩四年（前119），東晉義熙七年（411）更名鹽城，因城形似瓢，又名瓢城。自南宋紹興乾道間（1131——1173），先后三次修筑城池，宋嘉定八年（1215）知縣尤炳、元至正十五年（1355）知縣秦曹經兩次重修，皆為土城。明永樂十六年（1418）備倭指揮楊清、守御千戶馮善重修城池，改土城為磚城，并擴大原有城池規模。城高二丈二尺，周長七里一百三十四步，東西長二里二百一十七步，南北長二里一百八十步，護城河深九尺。明清兩代，城墻多次修繕。民國二十八年（1939），為應對日軍空襲，便于疏散，城墻拆除。
織構綠色項鏈，傳承城墻記憶
為提升城市環境品質，重塑城市風貌特色，市委市政府加快推進老城區微更新建設，于2020年起啟動瓢城綠廊建設，利用一年時間，結合建軍路商圈業態提升，因地制宜建設多樣的林蔭空間，通過歷史與現代的演繹、生態與文化的互動留住瓢城記憶。
瓢城綠廊建設項目位于鹽城中心城區老城核心區，主要實施線路為沿環城南路、環城西路、環城北路，迎賓北路、迎賓南路形成瓢形環狀，總長度4.84公里，景觀總面積148.5畝。綠廊沿線實施道路行道樹種植和改造，種植胸徑20厘米左右的法桐，在迎賓路八十間地塊、環城北路北側、環城西路西側等處建設口袋公園、游園。
根據市委市政府決策部署，市城投集團加快對城市更新改造，啟動瓢城綠廊建設，利用史料記載原城門位置，打造四個重要的城門記憶小品：安泰四方、拱斗星辰、朝陽永續、迎薰遠眺。同時恢復鹽城古八景之一“瓜井仙蹤”，復建古城墻與上述文化鋪裝系統一起，形成一條重要的古城尋蹤文化脈絡。
1. 安泰門·安泰四方
安泰門，古瓢城城池西門。佛教以為，日出東方而始，日落西方而至，西方被稱為西方凈土、安養凈土、安養世界、安樂國，因此古代西門常稱為“安”。后來也有人附會為安定西部邊陲之意。明永樂十六年（1418）修，有城樓。
Antai Gate was the west gate of ancient Yancheng. It is believed by Buddhists that everything begins as the sun rises in the east and arrives as the sun sets in the west. In Buddhism, the west has always been called the Pure Land of peace and happiness, thereby the west gate was often named as “An” in ancient times which means peace in Chinese. Antai Gate was initially built in 1418 with a tower.
安泰門設計稿
安泰門實景圖
2. 拱斗門·拱斗星辰
拱斗門，古瓢城城池北門。拱斗，也稱為拱極，或者拱辰。意思是拱衛北極星或者北斗星，源自《論語·為政》：“為政以德，譬如北辰，居其所，而眾星共(拱)之。”因北斗星在北方，因此古代常用來作為北門的稱謂。明永樂十六年（1418）修，有城樓。
Gongdou Gate was the north gate of ancient Yancheng. “Gongdou” means surrounding and guarding the north polar star in Chinese, sourced from the Analects of Confucius: "He who exercises his government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it." The north polar star being in the north, Gongdou Gate was often used as the name of the north gate in ancient times. It was initially built in 1418 with a tower.
拱斗門設計稿
拱斗門實景圖
3. 朝陽門·朝陽永續
朝陽門，古瓢城城池東門。因東面最先迎接太陽，因此東門多稱為“朝陽”。明永樂十六年（1418）修，有城樓。
Chaoyang Gate was the east gate of ancient Yancheng. The sun rising in the east every day, it is understandable for the east gate to receive its name “Chaoyang” with the Chinese meaning of greeting the sun. It was initially built in 1418 with a tower.
朝陽門設計稿
朝陽門實景圖
4. 迎薰門·迎薰遠眺
迎薰門，古瓢城城池南門。意指迎納、沐浴著來自南方的和煦之風。取自《禮記·樂記》：“昔者舜彈五絃之琴，造《南風》之詩，其詩曰：南風之薰兮，可以解吾民之慍兮。南風之時兮，可以阜吾民之財兮。”明永樂十六年建磚城時，原無南門，明萬歷七年（1579年）知縣楊瑞云為便民進出，在文廟外增建南門，門上有樓三楹，上題“淮陽一覽”，門外建有躍龍池、迎恩亭。后因城內多火災，南門再次被封閉。崇禎十三年（1639）知縣張桓西移數十米復修南門。
Yingxun Gate was the south gate of ancient Yancheng with the meaning of receiving and being bathed in the warm breeze from the south, sourced from Book of Rites: “Warm breeze from the south would release people from all their troubles and enrich them with fortune.” There was no south gate in 1418 when the city wall was rebuilt with bricks until 1579 that the south gate was added outside the Confucian Temple for the purpose of convenient coming in and out of people. Three buildings were built on the top of the gate inscribed with “having an overall view of Huaiyang” and Flying-dragon Pond and Bliss-receiving Pavilion were set up outside the gate. The south gate was closed later because of frequent fires. In 1639, a new south gate was rebuilt dozens of meters westwards from the original site.
迎薰門設計稿
迎薰門實景圖
瓢城綠廊作為承載鹽城歷史文化的重要載體，在項目建設中，城投集團注重歷史傳承與人文景觀挖掘，做好景、磚、校、城文章，加強對城市風貌整體性方面的規劃管控，更好展示鹽城歷史文化，切實提升老城功能與人居品質。
