中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)亭原(yuan)為清朝中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)后(hou)期建(jian)筑,咸豐(feng)三年(nian)(1853年(nian))重(zhong)修,當(dang)時的(de)清提督衙(ya)門(men)府(fu)(fu)(fu)位于今(jin)天的(de)市青少(shao)年(nian)宮,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)亭位置駐扎著保(bao)衛(wei)衙(ya)門(men)府(fu)(fu)(fu)的(de)“先鋒(feng)衛(wei)士營”,因此這一(yi)建(jian)筑就叫做先鋒(feng)廳。1930年(nian)新建(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)路,與先鋒(feng)廳主(zhu)樓相連建(jian)起了附(fu)屬鐘樓,為紀(ji)念(nian)孫中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)先生(sheng),此建(jian)筑正式(shi)命名為中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)亭。2002年(nian)初(chu),黃興北路拓(tuo)寬改造,長沙(sha)市政(zheng)府(fu)(fu)(fu)將(jiang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)亭保(bao)留(liu)并按照“修舊如舊”的(de)原(yuan)則進行(xing)修繕。2006年(nian)被公布為湖南(nan)省文物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位。
黃興路北口與中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路相交(jiao)(jiao)的(de)(de)(de)三(san)角(jiao)地(di)(di)帶,名(ming)曰先鋒廳(ting),是長(chang)(chang)沙市(shi)區一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)處(chu)著名(ming)的(de)(de)(de)歷史地(di)(di)段。先鋒廳(ting)正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)矗立(li)著一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)座高(gao)十余米的(de)(de)(de)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou),稱(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)紀(ji)念(nian)亭,習稱(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭,這(zhe)是長(chang)(chang)沙市(shi)區保(bao)存(cun)至今較有特(te)色(se)的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)幢近現(xian)代(dai)著名(ming)建(jian)筑(zhu)。清朝(chao)時,此(ci)處(chu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)堵高(gao)厚(hou)的(de)(de)(de)照壁,北面正(zheng)對湖(hu)(hu)南巡撫(fu)衙門(men)(men)前(qian)的(de)(de)(de)轅門(men)(men)大坪(ping),照壁后即為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)巡撫(fu)衙門(men)(men)衛隊先鋒廳(ting)的(de)(de)(de)營房,占地(di)(di)約(yue)數百平方(fang)米。辛亥革命后,清朝(chao)被推翻(fan),原巡撫(fu)衙門(men)(men)改為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)湖(hu)(hu)南軍政(zheng)府,后又改為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)湖(hu)(hu)南督(du)軍署、湖(hu)(hu)南省(sheng)政(zheng)府,而照壁和(he)先鋒廳(ting)房屋則廢棄不(bu)治。1930年2月(yue),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路修筑(zhu)竣工(gong)(gong),省(sheng)建(jian)設(she)(she)廳(ting)又決定圈(quan)用(yong)照壁前(qian)后之余坪(ping)及先鋒廳(ting)地(di)(di),建(jian)設(she)(she)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)座公(gong)(gong)園(yuan),并將照壁拆除,建(jian)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)。工(gong)(gong)程于(yu)1930年3月(yue)破土,7月(yue)即告(gao)竣工(gong)(gong)。建(jian)成(cheng)后的(de)(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)園(yuan),因(yin)(yin)北向隔中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)路正(zheng)對省(sheng)政(zheng)府大門(men)(men)(今青少年宮西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)),故稱(cheng)省(sheng)政(zheng)府前(qian)坪(ping)公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)立(li)于(yu)公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)高(gao)16米的(de)(de)(de)西(xi)(xi)式(shi)方(fang)形建(jian)筑(zhu),共5層(ceng),為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)紀(ji)念(nian)偉大的(de)(de)(de)革命先驅孫中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)先生,命名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)紀(ji)念(nian)亭。附樓(lou)南向3層(ceng)。在此(ci)之前(qian),長(chang)(chang)沙舊習相沿,向以(yi)(yi)天(tian)心閣城(cheng)樓(lou)午炮為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)標(biao)準時間,每(mei)至午時,霹靂一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)聲,驚天(tian)動(dong)地(di)(di),于(yu)人民(min)生活殊多妨礙。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)建(jian)成(cheng)后,裝上了(le)從德(de)國(guo)購進的(de)(de)(de)電動(dong)標(biao)準時鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。人們從此(ci)經過,舉(ju)目遙望(wang),即可獲知時間。所以(yi)(yi),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)山(shan)(shan)亭的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)成(cheng)又是長(chang)(chang)沙城(cheng)市(shi)使用(yong)公(gong)(gong)共標(biao)準時鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)之始。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)之后掘有橢圓形水池,深2米,周圍砌磚欄,間以(yi)(yi)綠釉瓷柱(zhu)。池外(wai)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)草(cao)地(di)(di),間植花(hua)木,而以(yi)(yi)水泥(ni)矮柱(zhu)貫鐵鏈以(yi)(yi)環之。(見圖二)。在當時來說,這(zhe)座公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)高(gao)矗,池水清悠,紅花(hua)綠草(cao),尚不(bu)失為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)處(chu)城(cheng)市(shi)景(jing)觀。1932年,市(shi)立(li)民(min)教育館(guan)設(she)(she)于(yu)該處(chu)的(de)(de)(de)附樓(lou),下層(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)書報閱(yue)覽室(shi)和(he)游藝室(shi),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)層(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)辦公(gong)(gong)室(shi)與教室(shi),上層(ceng)系平臺,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)民(min)眾(zhong)茶園(yuan)。因(yin)(yin)地(di)(di)點適中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、交(jiao)(jiao)通便利,每(mei)天(tian)來館(guan)民(min)眾(zhong)達400人以(yi)(yi)上。
自清初以來三(san)百余年,先(xian)鋒(feng)廳因(yin)正(zheng)對湖(hu)南(nan)最高(gao)(gao)軍政機(ji)關大(da)門,目擊了發(fa)生在(zai)這(zhe)里的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)系(xi)列重大(da)歷(li)史(shi)事件,如1910年震驚(jing)中(zhong)(zhong)外的(de)(de)(de)搶米(mi)風潮,1911年的(de)(de)(de)辛亥革命、湖(hu)南(nan)反正(zheng),1922年毛澤東領導(dao)的(de)(de)(de)長沙第一(yi)次(ci)工人運(yun)動(dong)高(gao)(gao)潮,可以說是世事蒼茫,飽經風雨(yu)。而高(gao)(gao)踞于(yu)(yu)此(ci)處的(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)山亭也歷(li)盡(jin)滄桑。1938年長沙大(da)火,吞沒全城(cheng);其后發(fa)生的(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)日四次(ci)長沙會戰,炮火連(lian)天,中(zhong)(zhong)山亭依(yi)然昂首屹(yi)立(li)。中(zhong)(zhong)山亭又是近70年來長沙城(cheng)市變遷的(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史(shi)見證。修建中(zhong)(zhong)山亭的(de)(de)(de)當年,曾在(zai)其南(nan)向修了一(yi)條10米(mi)寬(kuan)的(de)(de)(de)馬路(lu)(lu)(lu),通(tong)往(wang)吉祥巷;又于(yu)(yu)兩旁各(ge)修一(yi)支(zhi)線,與中(zhong)(zhong)山路(lu)(lu)(lu)相(xiang)連(lian)。1948年修筑黃興中(zhong)(zhong)路(lu)(lu)(lu),先(xian)鋒(feng)廳又與八(ba)角亭、司門口(kou)連(lian)成一(yi)線,成為(wei)通(tong)途(tu)。
2013年10月21日,歷經近一(yi)年的(de)“修舊(jiu)(jiu)如舊(jiu)(jiu)”后(hou),長沙市中山亭現已重(zhong)新開(kai)放。
此(ci)次修繕恢(hui)復(fu)原中(zhong)山亭二(er)層(ceng)的(de)(de)結構,拆除了(le)(le)原來(lai)3.4米(mi)、6.6米(mi)兩個標高(gao)處的(de)(de)樓(lou)面,在5.85米(mi)標高(gao)處設置(zhi)(zhi)鋼筋(jin)混凝(ning)土樓(lou)板(ban)。同時,將樓(lou)梯起(qi)步恢(hui)復(fu)到(dao)進大門左邊靠北(bei)向(xiang)外墻處,與(yu)始建時的(de)(de)位置(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)致。實施了(le)(le)“亮化”工程,在一(yi)樓(lou)、二(er)樓(lou)、塔頂安(an)裝了(le)(le)多盞(zhan)投光燈。夜色之下,中(zhong)山亭樓(lou)房的(de)(de)光芒與(yu)旁(pang)邊高(gao)樓(lou)的(de)(de)燈光交(jiao)相輝映(ying),甚為靚麗(li)。
正門前(qian)坪,左(zuo)右(you)各有一(yi)棵(ke)樟(zhang)樹(shu),右(you)邊(bian)的(de)樟(zhang)樹(shu)下立著兩塊大石頭,上面分別刻(ke)著“平等”“博愛”。挨著亭子的(de)右(you)邊(bian)是(shi)排成兩列的(de)雪松,雪松的(de)后面是(shi)一(yi)棵(ke)老樟(zhang)樹(shu),給中山亭增添了肅穆(mu)之感。
這次提質改造較大的亮點(dian),便是新(xin)增加(jia)了一座孫中山銅像。銅像屹立在中山亭的正前門外,鼻子挺(ting)拔、嘴唇(chun)緊閉(bi);一身中山裝、腳(jiao)穿大頭皮(pi)鞋;右手拄著(zhu)文明杖,左手握著(zhu)一卷《建(jian)國方略》;眼睛深邃、目光堅毅(yi)。