Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Front Gate, or Qiánmén, actually consists of two gates. The northernmost of the two
gates is the 40m-high Zhèngyáng Gate (Zhèngyáng Mén Chénglóu), which dates
from the Ming dynasty and was the largest of the nine gates of the Inner City Wall
separating the inner, or Tartar (Manchu), city from the outer, or Chinese, city. Par-
tially destroyed in the Boxer Rebellion around 1900, the gate was once flanked by
two temples that have since vanished. With the disappearance of the city walls, the
gate sits out of context, but it can be climbed for decent views of Tiān'ānmén Sq
and of Arrow Tower, immediately to the south.
Inside the upper levels are some fascinating historical photographs, showing the
area as it was at the beginning of the last century, before the city walls and many of
the surrounding gates and temples were demolished. Explanatory captions are in
English as well as Chinese. Zhèngyáng Gate Arrow Tower ( Zhèngyángmén Jiànlóu) ,
directly south, can't be climbed. It also dates from the Ming dynasty and was ori-
ginally connected to Zhèngyáng Gate by a semicircular enceinte (enclosing wall),
demolished last century.
DON'T MISS
» Fascinating historical photographs
» Views of Tiān'ānmén Sq
PRACTICALITIES
» Qiánmén
» OFFLINE MAP
» admission ¥20, audio guide ¥20
»
9am-4pm, closed Mon
»
Qiánmén
|GALLERY
COURTYARD GALLERY
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
( Sìhéyuàn Huàláng; 95 Donghuamen Dajie, 10am-10pm; Dengshikou) Tucked away discreetly be-
neath its namesake restaurant, which is perched overlooking prime views of the Forbidden
City moat, this basement gallery is a crisp and trendy pocket-sized space of white painted
bricks and contemporary paintings.
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