Beijing was divided into the outer city and the inner city during China’s Qing Dynasty. The inner city once had nine gates guarding the entire city from invading and so they played an important role for the safety of Beijing. What were they? And what were they used for?

Today's Zhengyang Gate

They were once named Inner Nine Gates, which consisted of Chaoyang Gate (朝阳门), Chongwen Gate (崇文门), Zhengyang Gate (正阳门), Xuanwu Gate (宣武门), Fucheng Gate (阜成门), Desheng Gate (德胜门), Anding Gate (安定门), Dongzhi Gate (东直门) and Xizhi Gate (西直门).

Chaoyang Gate: Used for carts which carry grains and food.

Chongwen Gate: Used for carts which carry wines and liquors.

Zhengyang Gate: Used for carriages which carry emperors.

Xuanwu Gate: Used for carts which carry criminals.

Fucheng Gate: Used for carts which carry coal.

Xizheng Gate: Used for carts which carry water.

Desheng Gate: Used for military affairs.

Anding Gate: Used for carts which carry excrement.

Dongzhi Gate: Used for carts which carry building maters such as bricks, tiles, wood and so on.

They were not confined to the functions mentioned above, and this just means different kinds of activities were allocated to different gates. Today nearly all of the nine gates have disappeared, but it is worth your time spending some time on the history about them. The nine gates of Beijing can tell us the past stories of Beijing and the characteristics and functions of the gates of the Qing Dynasty.