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.
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).
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.
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 Meridian Gate Photos |
What does the Meridian Gate look like?
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).
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| Five Phoenix Hall (Wufenglou) |
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.
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What is the Meridian Gate used for today?
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| Ticket Gates of Meridian Gate |
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| Swallow Wing Hall |
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.
Special Exhibition Commemorating the Palace Museum's 100th Anniversary
From September 30 to December 31, 2025, a special exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Palace Museum will be held in the Meridian Gate exhibition hall. It will showcase 200 exquisite items, including national treasures not seen for many years, such as:
Along the River During the Qingming Festival, a 5.28-meter-long masterpiece depicting China’s urban prosperity 900 years ago. Five Oxen, the world's oldest surviving animal-themed paper painting, aging over 1,300 years old. The 25 Imperial Seals representing supreme imperial authority during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The gold wine cup used by emperors for important state rituals in Qing Dynasty. |
| Meridian Gate Exhibit Hall |
Visitor Tips
1. Advance Booking Required
The exhibition is included in the general Palace Museum ticket, but visitors must select “Meridian Gate Special Exhibition” during reservation. It's recommended to book early as tickets often sell out immediately, especially on weekends and holidays. Alternatively, consider using TravelChinaGuide's booking service for guaranteed entry.
2. Prepare for Long Queues
Due to its immense popularity, prepare for long queues, especially during weekends and holidays, with wait times of 1 hour or longer.
3. Suggested Visit Time
Allow 1.5 hours for the centennial exhibition. The viewing hours may extend until 22:00. You can visit this exhibition last after exploring other palace areas that close earlier, and exit from East Prosperity Gate.
What was the Meridian Gate used for?
Entry & Exit
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| East Corner Door of Meridian Gate |
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. 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.
Issue Edicts
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| Meridian Gate Corridor |
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.
Celebrate Festivals
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).
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).
Conduct Military Ceremonies
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.
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Punish Ministers
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.
Was the Meridian Gate used for beheading?
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.
Why is it called the Meridian Gate?
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.
When was the Meridian Gate built?
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.
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 Furniture Gallery and Hall of Martial Valor (Wuyingdian).
Further Reading:How to visit the Forbidden City
- Last updated on Oct. 30, 2025 by Jally Zhang -