Zhengyangmen Tours and Activities

Front Gate showing heritage architecture, street scenes and a city
Zhengyangmen
Front Gate showing a city and a square or plaza as well as a large group of people
Front Gate which includes signage and a city
Front Gate which includes heritage architecture


After hundreds of years guarding the Chinese Emperors in the Forbidden City, this magnificent gate still stands tall and proud on the edge of Tiananmen Square.

Qianmen Gate was once a vital part of Beijing’s heavily fortified ancient city wall. Situated between the imperial domain of the Forbidden City and the outer Beijing suburbs, it provided the key thoroughfare between the restricted royal palace and the rest of the city.The structure of Qianmen Gate follows a traditional design, with two watchtowers flanking a walled courtyard. This made the entrance easily defendable, as any unwelcome visitors would find themselves greeted with a volley of arrows as they tried to make their way through the protected passages.It was through this Gate that the Emperor would pass as he travelled to Tiantan – or the Altar of Heaven – to make offerings of prayer and sacrifice. Officials and emissaries would enter the Forbidden City this way too, making it the main passage for trade and politics in China’s imperial past. The surrounding area is still a centre of trade, with countless shops and restaurants for you to explore.For a small entry fee you can enter the larger structure – the Gate of True Sun. Visit the museum in the base of this tower, dedicated to preserving the history of the legendary imperial palace. Through a display of ancient photos and historic artefacts, the museum traces the rise and fall of Beijing’s Forbidden City.To enjoy a view of Tiananmen Square that is second to none, make your way to the top of the stone staircase and look out across the bustling crowds. From the top of the tower, you’ll get a privileged viewpoint of the goings-on in Beijing’s main urban district.The smaller gate – known as the Grey Arrow Tower – is closed to the public, but still worth admiring from the outside. It makes for a spectacular sight when lit up at night, its many arrow slits creating dramatic shadows against the illuminated walls.Qianmen Gate is easy to reach from both Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Qianmen subway station is just a few minutes’ walk away and the area is served by a number of major bus routes.

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Top Zhengyangmen Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
Hilton Beijing Wangfujing
5 out of 5
8 Wangfujing East Street, Dongcheng, Beijing, Beijing
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Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing
4 out of 5
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Grand Hyatt Beijing
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Novotel Beijing Peace
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Beijing Pudi Hotel
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Regent Beijing
Regent Beijing
5 out of 5
99 Jinbao St Dongcheng Dstrct, Beijing, Beijing
Regent Beijing
Beijing Hotel Nuo Forbidden City
Beijing Hotel Nuo Forbidden City
5 out of 5
33 Chang An Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing
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New World Beijing Hotel
New World Beijing Hotel
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No. 8 Qinian Street, Chongwenmen, Dongcheng District, Beijing, Beijing
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The Peninsula Beijing
The Peninsula Beijing
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8 Jinyu Hutong, DongDan, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing, Beijing
The Peninsula Beijing
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Beautiful view of the beach with palm trees

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