Chaoyangmen (1437-1956)
In terms of geography, the Chaoyangmen gate faced towards the east. This was no coincidence. The west and north side of the city faced the mountains that offered the city a na
Chongwenmen (1267-1968)
Each city gate has its own character. For this one, its defining quality was its high taxation that vendors passing through the gate during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) were c
Qianmen (1439-present)
The name Qianmen does not actually refer to the city gate itself, whose official name is Zhengyangmen. Instead, Qianmen mostly refers to the region surrounding the gate. Histor
Recently the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics Protection announced that they are planning a construction project to renovate old, iconic architecture in Beijing, including the city gates.
Most of these gates were razed to the ground after 1949, especially during the construction of Subway Line 2, which has been built on the previous moat surrounding these gates and the walls. However, their memory still resonates in the city.
Lifestyle has dug out some of the unusual stories and secrets behind these city gates.
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