Tiananmen Gate Tower is situated on the traditional north-south axis of Beijing. Composed of the foundation and a tower, it has a marble Sumeru throne. The total height is 34.7 meters. The tower was bolstered by 60 columns in scarlet red with the floor paved with gold bricks. On the grand foundation painted in rich color is a tower with double-hipped, yellow glaze tiled roof. It has nine rooms from the east to the west and another five from north to south represent the “royal prerogative”. 36 doors to the south and north are sculpted in the patterns of rhombohedra with scarlet paint. The ceilings, arches and beams are decorated with traditional design of gold dragons and auspicious omens. The royal seal patterns of two dragons combining together in colors, ceilings with designs of rolling dragons make the hall splendid and grand. An anise temple palace lantern weighing 450 kilograms and 16 hexagonal lanterns each weighing 350 kilograms make up the pattern of stars surrounding the moon.

Under the foundation, there are five arched doors, the one in the middle being the largest and just at the north-south axis to allow the entrance and exit of emperors exclusively. On the top of this door in the middle hangs a massive portrait of Chairman Mao, with giant slogans on respective sides, which reads “Long live the People’s Republic of China” and “Long live the great unity of the peoples of the world”. The Past of the Tower: When Yongle Emperor of Ming Dynasty relocated the capital at Beijing in 1421, the Ming Peking was formally established. In grandeur and magnificence, the outer city contained the south of inner city, which then contained the imperial city, inside of which situated the Forbidden City, to form a protruding graph.Chengtian Gate as an important building in the imperial city, was established in the 18th year during Emperor Yongle’s reign in 1420. At that time, it was no more than a group of five three-floor wooden arches with yellow tiles and overhanging eaves, on the top of which hangs a plaque “Gate of Chengtian”. In 1457, the building was hit by thunders and wasn’t restored until the first year of Xianzong of Ming in 1465, hosted by Baigui, a high official in the Ministry of Works. The restoration laid foundation for the establishment of Tiananmen Gate Tower nowadays. Since then for the next 180 years of the Ming Dynasty, it had never made any major alteration except some maintenance work.In the 17th year during the reign of Chongzhen Emperor (1644), Li Zicheng led the peasants’ rebel army to occupy the capital. Chengtian Gate was ruined in war again. In the 8th year during the reign of Emperor Shunzhi of Qing dynasty (1651), Emperor Shunzhi ordered reconstruction in large scale and renamed it “Tiananmen”. After the two large scale maintenances in the 27th year during Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1688) and 1952 plus a reconstruction in 1970, it was resumed to its former form in Emperor Shunzhi’s reign. The new Tiananmen Gate then was 83 centimeter higher than the origin one, at a height of 34.7 meters. On October 1st, 1949, the new People’s Republic of China announced its establishment here.It witnessed the long history of Chinese civilization and the vicissitude of imperial dynasties. It remains alive in grandeur and majesty despite age.TrafficYou may take Subway Line 1, No. 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 22, 37, 52, 728 Bus to get off at Tiananmen East Station and you may also take Subway Line 2, No. 9, 17, 22, 44, 48, 59, 66, 67, 69, 71, 120, 673, 690, 692, 729, 808, 826, 901 Bus, No. 2, 4 Special Bus and so on to get off at Qianmen Station or Qianmen Bus Stop.Admission ticketRMB15 yuan for entrance, RMB5 yuan for student each and RMB5 yuan for the elderly above 70, free for enlisted man.Opening hour: 8:30-17:00.