Duanmen

　　A Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Located between Tiananmen and the Wumen (Meridian Gate) of the Forbidden City along Beijing’s central axis. Duanmen is an important component of the ancient architectural complex of the Forbidden City, also known as the “Second Gate.” It was one of the main gates of the Forbidden City during the Ming Dynasty and also served as the main gate of the Imperial City during the Qing Dynasty.

　　Duanmen was completed in the 18th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1420). The gate tower of Duanmen was used to store the emperor’s ceremonial equipment. Whenever the emperor went on inspection tours, returned to the capital, or held grand ceremonies, the ceremonial guards would take out various items of regalia and arrange them neatly along both sides of the imperial path, while bells atop Duanmen and Wumen would ring in unison. Stretching three Chinese miles from the three main halls of the Outer Court to the Daming Gate, the layout was designed to demonstrate the supreme authority of the feudal monarchy. The square-shaped and enclosed Duanmen Plaza has a moderate and balanced character, serving as a transitional space. On the east and west sides of Tiananmen leading to Duanmen are 26 ceremonial offices (chaofang) each; the central one on the east side is the gate to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the central one on the west side is the gate to the Altar of Land and Grain, leading respectively to those sites. On the east and west sides of the area between Duanmen and Wumen are the offices (zhi fang) of the Six Ministries (i.e., Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works), with the northern end of the eastern side featuring the Que Left Gate, south of which is the Temple Right Gate leading to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On the western side, the northern end features the Que Right Gate, south of which is the Altar Left Gate leading to the Altar of Land and Grain. After the Imperial Ancestral Temple and Altar of Land and Grain were converted into parks during the Republic of China period, the respective gates were all closed off.

　　Representative Attractions:

　　1. The Great Bell of Duanmen: The double-dragon knob bell of Duanmen, weighing over 3 tonnes, was rung along with drums at Wumen during morning and evening court sessions, festivals, or when the emperor went on inspection tours or returned to the capital. The resonant sound could be heard for miles, inspiring awe. In 1900, during the occupation of Beijing by the Eight-Nation Alliance, a group of British Indian soldiers climbed onto the gate tower of Duanmen, broke into the hall, and wildly looted the ceremonial equipment, weapons, and goldware inside. In the end, only the large and heavy ceremonial bell hanging at the center of the hall remained. The ferocious British Indian soldiers then shot and damaged the dragon-claw knobs atop the bell before leaving in frustration.

　　2. The Arched Gate Openings: Beneath the expansive, tall, dignified, and simple gate platform are five arched gate openings, each 40 meters long. The central opening is the largest, standing 8.82 meters high, with its center perfectly aligned along the central axis of the Imperial City. The other four openings gradually decrease in size moving outward, at 4.43 meters and 3.83 meters wide respectively. The central imperial passage was reserved solely for the emperor, the royal gate for nobility, and the outer rank gates for officials of third rank and above. Each of the five gate openings has two vermilion-painted wooden doors inlaid with gold-plated copper studs arranged in a “nine-by-nine” grid pattern.

　　3. Red-Lacquered Nanmu Pillars: The hall houses 60 red-lacquered nanmu pillars with diameters of about 92 centimeters. The 36 front doors and windows feature traditional Chinese diamond-pattern lattice designs, with carved paneling at the lower sections of the windows, lending an air of dignity and stability.

Duanmen is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.