Old North Gate, Taipei

The Old North Gate, sometimes referred to as the Taipei North Gate or Cheng'en Gate, was erected as part of the city walls. Completed in 1884, the walls were ordered by Prefect Chen Hsing-chu after the Qing Dynasty established what would become modern day Taipei.

The Old North Gate was one of five gates that was used to access the newly formed prefectural capital of Taipei. Though the other gates still stand, the Old North Gate is the only one that remains well preserved and historically accurate.

A plaque that once hung on the gate is now on display in the square. It was removed during the Japanese colonial period, but is still available for tourists to admire. The plaque reads "The Key to Territory Safety."

The two-story gate was built both as an entry and as a fortress. The second story has a number of windows that were used by guards who looked for any coming threats.