Upright Gate (Duanmen)

The Upright Gate, now an essential gateway from Tiananmen Square into the Forbidden City, used to play a unique role as a ceremonial structure. 
 

Upright Gate, Forbidden City

 
Constructed in 1420, the gate held multiple functions.

Situated in front of the palace's main gate the Meridian Gate, the Upright Gate marked the threshold to the palace to see the emperor—a point where one was expected to behave well in reverence, earning it the title "Gate of Etiquette". 

Before the emperor's departures from the Forbidden City for tours, the imperial guard and ceremonial processions would assemble here to organize their formations. The gate's bell would be rung on significant occasions, such as court sessions and festivals. 

Also called the "Storage Gate", its chambers housed imperial items like ceremonial canopies, palanquins, weaponry, and ritual objects. After 1912, it stored over 8,000 sacks of historical archives dating from the mid-17th to early 20th century.
  

Upright Gate, Forbidden City

The Upright Gate, featuring a double-eaved hipped roof covered in yellow glazed tiles, consists of a raised platform topped with a tower. 

The platform has five arched passageways, the central one being the largest and precisely aligned with the Forbidden City’s central axis, while the others diminish in size symmetrically outward.

Its tower is supported by 60 red-lacquered pillars, each made of precious timber and measuring approximately 92 cm (36 in) in diameter. The 36 windows and doors on the front are designed in the traditional Chinese rhombic pattern, with carved panels beneath the windows. 
 

See the Gate from Tiananmen Tower

Uniquely, the Upright Gate is standalone without adjacent walls, which is due to it served to spatially divide and channel the path between the Meridian Gate and Tiananmen Tower. These three gates together enclose two deep, imposing courtyards, creating a sense of confinement and compression. This spatial design was intentionally made to progressively transition one from the outside world into the heart of imperial power, making the emperor's majesty palpable before you even see him.
 
Now, it functions as a passage for visitors moving from Tiananmen Square to the Meridian Gate. The tower hosts a digital exhibition space, occasionally open for themed displays related to the Forbidden City. It also occasionally serves as a venue for national ceremonies and receptions. For instance, before the Tiananmen Square military parade in September 2025, guests from various countries entered Tiananmen Tower through the Upright Gate.
 

Visitors at the Gate Plaza

Upright Gate in Winter

  

Inside Palace Museum Restaurant

The Upright Gate is located just outside the Meridian Gate. While visitors currently cannot ascend the gatehouse for exhibitions, its exterior can be viewed for free, and you can pass through its archways.
 
The nearest subway and bus stations for reaching the Upright Gate are located around Tiananmen Square. You can take subway Line 1 to Tiananmen East Station (Exit B) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B), followed by a 5 to 10-minute walk through the square to the gate at its northern end. Alternatively, bus routes such as 1, 5, or 52 stop at Tiananmen East or West, from where you can walk across the square to arrive at the gate.
 
After entering through the Upright Gate, there is a Palace Museum Restaurant on your left, offering simple Chinese meals like Kung Pao Chicken rice bowls and beef noodles at an average cost of CNY40 per person. It's a convenient dining option after visiting Tiananmen Square and before entering the Forbidden City. To avoid long queues, try to steer clear of the lunch rush between 11:30 and 13:30.