Gate of Divine Might
Era unverified
- The north gate and main exit, facing Jingshan Park across the street.
I am the Gate of Divine Prowess, the northern gate of the Forbidden City, now the exit of the Palace Museum. Built in 1420 during the Yongle Emperor's reign, I was originally named the Black Tortoise Gate, but renamed to avoid the Kangxi Emperor's taboo name. I stand 31 meters tall, with a white marble base and three arched gateways, topped by a double-eaved hip roof with yellow glazed tiles and a blue plaque inscribed in both Manchu and Chinese. In old times, I housed bells and drums, ringing 108 times at dusk to mark the watches. Since 2011, I have served only as an exit, with visitors entering through the Meridian Gate. Guo Moruo's calligraphy of 'Palace Museum' adorns my face. Remember me: I am the northern gate of the Forbidden City, the last sight as you leave.
Sources
This guide was AI-written from the public references below. Spot a factual error? Tell us.
Image: Luka Peternel (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)