Meridian Gate (Wumen)

Wumen in Chinese, the Meridian Gate is the southern gate and the only entrance now to the Forbidden City. After touring Tiananmen Square, tourists can walk through the Tiananmen Tower (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to the Duanmen Gate, and then get through it and arrive at the square before it.

Have your tickets checked at the booths on either side, and start your tour to this magnificent imperial palace complex of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties.
 Chinese emperors believed that they were the Sons of Heaven and therefore should live at the center of the universe. They believed the Meridian went through the middle of the gate and built the entire Forbidden City symmetrically to this axis, and thus it was named accordingly. 

Meridian Gate Photos

 The Meridian Gate was completed at the year of 1420. The structure we see today, however, dates back to a major reconstruction in 1647. This was necessary after the gate was severely damaged in a fire set by rebel leader Li Zicheng during his invasion of Beijing and burning of the Forbidden City at the end of the Ming Dynasty in 1644.
 

Five Phoenix Hall (Wufenglou)

As the largest and most imposing gate to the Forbidden City, the Meridian Gate has a height of 37.95 meters (124.5 feet). It has a concave layout with five towers appearing like a flying phoenix, which also gives it another name ‘Five-Phoenix Hall’ (Wufenglou).

Swallow Wing Hall

The central tower, with double roofs made of colored glazed tiles, is 60.05 meters (198 feet) in length and 25 meters (82 feet) in width. It is on a 12 meters ' (39 feet) high red abutment, whose frontispiece has three doorways.

On the east and west of the central abutment, two corridor-like buildings extend southward, separately connecting two towers with double spires on their ends, resembling a pair of swallow wings. There are two smaller doors at the corners of the flanking buildings.

On the two ends of the central tower, there are bells and drums. The bells would ring to announce the emperor's departure for the Temple of Heaven, while the drums were struck to announce the departure to the Ancestral Temple. The bells and drums were sounded together when big ceremonies were held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian). 

 Today, visitors can walk through the five grand gates of the Meridian Gate with ease. But back in feudal times, only the emperor and a tiny number of privileged people were allowed to pass through these gates, because of the strict hierarchical rules that highlighted the rigid class system and the emperor's ultimate power.
 

Meridian Gate Central & Two Side Doors

 The central doorway was for the exclusive use of the emperor in Ming and Qing Dynasties. However, an empress was granted the privilege of using this opening once, and only once, on her wedding day.
 

East Corner Door of Meridian Gate

 As a special honor, the top three scholars, who achieved the highest awards in the national examinations presided over by the emperor, would be permitted to march through this door, following their interview with the emperor.

In the late Qing Dynasty, upon invitation, foreign royals and envoys had access to the Forbidden City through the central door of the Meridian Gate, as seen when a German prince and envoy entered this way in 1903 to meet Emperor Guangxu.
 The smaller door to the east was used by ministers and officials while that to the west was used by the royal family. The remaining two  doors at the corners were only used when there were grand ceremonies.
  The Meridian Gate is the usual place for the promulgation of the emperors’ rescripts. In the Qing Dynasty, the emperor would submit the almanac of the next year on the first day of the 10th lunar month. The almanac would indicate farm activities and the dates of essential ceremonies.
 Besides, a number of special events, ceremonies and festival activities were held here.

In the Ming Dynasty, the emperor would treat the officials on the central tower on the Lantern Festival (celebrating the first full moon of Chinese New Year). The emperor would bestow various foods to his ministers here on some traditional festivals, including the pastries on the day of the Beginning of Spring, red bean sticky rice cakes on the Dragon Boat Festival (honoring Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet, and praying for health and safety), and Chongyang Cakes (five-colored rice cakes) on the Chongyang Festival (honoring elders and seeking longevity).
 When the troops returned from an important battle in triumph, there would be a grand Captives Sacrifice Ceremony on the square before the Meridian Gate for the emperor to inspect his troops and promulgate the punishment on the captives.
 To the left of the Imperial Way which passes through the central entrance is the place where the officials who had offended the emperor would receive punishment by the rod. In 1519, 158 officials dissuaded Emperor Zhu Houzhao from going out to south China for leisure, and 15 of them were beaten to death here.
 For a saying of ‘beheading someone out of the Meridian Gate’ which is especially popular used in some Chinese novels, films and television series, it is just a rumor. Actually, the execution of the criminals is held in Caishikou, a once busy local vegetable market and the present area around the Caishikou Department Store in Xuanwu District.
 

Ticket Gates of Meridian Gate

Today, tourists can enter the Meridian Gate through its three middle gateways, while the two side gateways have been converted into toilets and luggage storage areas. The plaza in front serves as a space for ticket checking and security screening. 

The Meridian Gate tower, along with the corridor buildings on both sides, make up a 3,000 square meter (32,292 square foot) exhibition hall that hosts 3 to 5 major exhibitions each year. For example, from Oct. 1, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025, the Special Exhibition of Confucian Culture displayed 380 artifacts here to tell visitors how the Confucian culture deeply influences China and the whole Asia.

Back Side seen  from the Gate of Supreme Harmony

Back Side seen  from the Inner Golden Water Bridge

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 Next:
Passing the Meridian Gate and walking through the Inner Golden River Bridges, you will see the huge square in front of the spectacular Three Palaces of the Outer Court of the Forbidden City.

If you want to tour along the central axis, you can go straight forward to the  Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen).

If your schedule is not tight, some side buildings are also worth a visit. To the east of the bridges is the Gate of Unified Harmony leading to the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian). To the west is the Gate of Prosperous Harmony leading to the Hall of Martial Valor (Wuyingdian).

 Further Reading:
How to visit the Forbidden City