Zhengyangmen

Zhengyangmen

Zhengyangmen is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Introduction

Zhengyangmen was built in the 17th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty and was originally named Lizhengmen. Because it is located directly in front of the Forbidden City, it is also called "Qianmen" (Front Gate). Zhengyangmen is one of the "Nine Gates of the Imperial Capital" in old Beijing. It comprises the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower, the Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower, and the Zhengyangmen Barbican, forming a complete ancient defensive architectural complex. Local records state that the gate tower and arrow tower were grand and magnificent in scale, while the barbican was imposing and represented the pinnacle of old Beijing's city wall architecture. Over the past 500 years, Zhengyangmen has endured much vicissitude, having been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Today, only the gate tower and the arrow tower remain, making it the most well-preserved gate in Beijing. The gate tower houses the Beijing Folk Customs Museum.

Qianmen is the common name for Zhengyangmen, which includes both the arrow tower and the gate tower. Originally connected by the barbican walls, they were later divided into two parts due to road construction. However, people often refer to the Dashilan area as Qianmen as well. Therefore, strictly speaking, the concept of Qianmen refers to a region encompassing Zhengyangmen and its surrounding areas such as Zhuwangzhuang and Dashilan.

Qianmen Street is one of Beijing’s famous commercial streets, located along the city’s central axis. It stretches from the Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower in the north to the intersection at Tianqiao, connecting to South Tianqiao Street. In the past, it served as the imperial route for emperors traveling from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven and the Altar of Mountains and Rivers.

The Qianmen commercial district originated in the Ming Dynasty. During that period, Beijing broke away from the Yuan Dynasty’s “front court, back market” layout, and a large commercial area developed around Zhengyangmen and extended south to Xianyukou and Langfang Hutong. In the early Qing Dynasty, the area saw a proliferation of artisan workshops, teahouses, and theaters, forming specialized markets. By the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (1900), a large influx of foreign goods entered Beijing, and with the opening of the Beijing–Fengtian and Beijing–Hankou railways, two railway stations were established on the east and west sides of Qianmen, ushering in a golden age of commercial prosperity.

Address: No. A2, Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Type: Historical Architecture & Landmark

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Phone: 010-65118110

Opening Hours:

9:00–16:00, closed on Mondays. Due to its special location, private events are often held here. For specific opening hours, please call in advance.

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 20.0 RMB

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Beijing

· Third Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level