The Qianqing Gate is the main gate of the Inner Court of the Forbidden City. It was constructed in the 18th year under the reign of Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1420 and reconstructed in the 12th Shunzhi year of the Qing Dynasty in 1655.

The Qianqing Gate is a big house-shaped gate, in front of which is a pair of gilding lions. Both sides of the gate have splayed colored glaze screen walls glowing in the sun. Innovative designers make the screen walls stand symmetrically to form the Chinese character “eight” in a splayed shape, easing the narrowness of the courtyard visually and making the Qianqing Gate look more gorgeous and magnificent.

On the east of the Qianqing Gate are Inner Left Gate and Jiuqingzhifang, a hall where the emperor met with nine major ministers, and on the west are Inner Right Gate and Privy Council. On the east and west ends of the square before the gate are respectively the Jingyun Gate and Longzong Gate. In the Qing Dynasty, the Qianqing Gate was not only a major access linking the Inner Court and the Outer Palace, but also the most important site for state affairs. Such ceremonies as “Holding Court at Imperial Gate”, fast and “Treasure Welcome and Reception” in the Qing Dynasty were all held at the Qianqing gate.

Emperor Kangxi was honored as the most dedicated emperor to state affairs in the Qing Dynasty. At age of eight, he said, “I have no other desires, but only wish that our country is stable and that our people live and work in contentment and enjoy the benefits of a peaceful age”. During his 60 years’ reign, Emperor Kangxi held court every day at the imperial gate. And the Qianqing Gate witnessed how much efforts this great emperor made to fulfill his childhood promise.