Didn’t emperors believe they were the center of the world? They planned their palaces along the central axis across Beijing. Now we stand at Yongdingmen Gate Tower. Yongdingmen means Lasting Peace. Men means Gate Tower.
Yongdingmen Gate Tower was the former front gate. It was one of the seven gates of Beijing’s outer city wall in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Beijing’s old city wall included the Forbidden City wall, the Imperial City Wall, the Inner City Wall and the Outer City Wall.
Originally built in 1553 during the Ming Dynasty, Yongdingmen Gate marks the southern start of Beijing’s Central Axis. This axis stretches 7.8km. It runs from Yongdingmen Gate through Zhengyang Gate and Tiananmen Square. It continues from the Forbidden City and Jingshan Hill to the Drum Tower and Bell Tower in the north.
The Central Axis shows ancient Chinese urban planning. Emperors thought they were the world’s center. So, their palaces were built on the axis from south to north.
The local government wants the Beijing central axis to become a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Yongdingmen Gate was rejected in 1956 but rebuilt in 2004. It now stands in Yongmen Park. This open park stretches 1000 meters from Yongdingmen to Nanwei Road. The Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Agriculture flank the green space.
Yongdingmen Gate Tower is a key spot to view along Beijing’s Central Axis. Two large squares sit on either side: the South Square and the North Square. The South Square crosses the bridge over the south second ring road.
The Yongdingmen Gate Tower stands 24 meters high and 34 meters wide. Notice the two lions guarding the tower. North of Yongdingmen Gate, the 1000-meter park stretches between the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Agriculture. The old imperial path is preserved under transparent glass.
The Yongding River flows nearby. It gives Yongding its name Eternal Stability. Once known as the Wuding River meaning Unfixed River due to its irregular flow. The Kangxi Emperor controlled seasonal flooding through hydraulic engineering. After those projects, the river was renamed Yongding River.