Qianmen (Zhengyangmen), Beijing
When you visit the historic Beijing city wall, do not miss out the Zhengyangmen, which is one of the wall's gates. Popularly called the Qianmen, this wall was constructed during the Ming Dynasty in 1419. The gate featured a large barbican all with an archery tower, the side walls and the side gates. Direct entry to the imperial city was guarded by this gate.
Qianmen Station, the first railway station in the city was constructed just outside the gate. During the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, the gate suffered extensive damage. In 1914, the gate was completely reconstructed and restored to its original glory.
The People Liberation Army's Beijing garrison occupied the Zhengyangmen gatehouse in 1949 after the victory of Communists. The gate became a major tourist attraction after the military vacated in 1980. This gate stands tall at 42 meters and is the highest gate in the city wall.
Tip:
You can access the interior of the structure that sits atop the former wall, where there are fascinating displays of the history of Beijing, along with art displays on one floor, and (of course) a gift shop. There is a magnificent 360-degree view of the city!
Qianmen Station, the first railway station in the city was constructed just outside the gate. During the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, the gate suffered extensive damage. In 1914, the gate was completely reconstructed and restored to its original glory.
The People Liberation Army's Beijing garrison occupied the Zhengyangmen gatehouse in 1949 after the victory of Communists. The gate became a major tourist attraction after the military vacated in 1980. This gate stands tall at 42 meters and is the highest gate in the city wall.
Tip:
You can access the interior of the structure that sits atop the former wall, where there are fascinating displays of the history of Beijing, along with art displays on one floor, and (of course) a gift shop. There is a magnificent 360-degree view of the city!
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Beijing. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Qianmen (Zhengyangmen) on Map
Sight Name: Qianmen (Zhengyangmen)
Sight Location: Beijing, China (See walking tours in Beijing)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Beijing, China (See walking tours in Beijing)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Beijing, China
Create Your Own Walk in Beijing
Creating your own self-guided walk in Beijing is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Beijing's Historical Temples Tour I
Chinese temples are of unique beauty and have withstood many dynasties. However because the temples have always been connected to the imperial families, many of them were destroyed when the last dynasty ended in 1911. Nevertheless, a great number of beautiful temples with great history still stand in Beijing. Take this self-guided walking tour to discover a few famous temples in the northern part... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Olympic Park Walking Tour
The Olympic Park in Beijing was built for the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2008. This modern complex represents a contemporary architectural approach as compared to the more traditional buildings that dominate the city. Among its signature items are the iconic Bird's Nest, otherwise known as the main Olympic stadium, and the beautiful Water Cube – the Aquatics Center for water sports.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
Beijing City Center Walking Tour
A political, cultural, and economic center of China for the past eight centuries, Beijing is the newest of the country's Four Ancient Capitals.
The city boasts the grandest and best preserved imperial palaces, gardens and temples, including seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian, and parts of the Great Wall... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The city boasts the grandest and best preserved imperial palaces, gardens and temples, including seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian, and parts of the Great Wall... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Beijing's Historical Temples Tour II
The places of worship are some of the best links to the city's history. The unique churches, Buddhist and Taoist Temples, and beautiful Muslim Mosques all tell great tales of the history of Beijing. Despite that many of them have been partially or completely destroyed over the years either by wars or by the changes of political power, a good number of them still remain. You can visit a few... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Best Street Foods to Try in Beijing
China's passion for food – long in history as The Great Wall of China itself – is clearly manifested in its street food culture. This is particularly noticeable on the streets of Beijing, teeming with numerous vendors and thick with aromas. Whether you're a vegan, vegetarian or a...
Most Popular Desserts and Drinks in Beijing
No meal is complete without a sweet touch and a proper drink to wash it all down. Beijing's food scene is rich and colorful in many ways, and the dessert & drink areas are no exception. Some of the signature Beijing delicacies have gained popularity across Asia over the centuries, whereas...
Top 10 Foods to Try in Beijing
Centuries went by and the regional Chinese, Manchurian, Mongol and Muslim cuisines boiled together to produce what's now known and loved as traditional Beijing cooking. Whenever you're in the Chinese capital, don't leave without tasting at least some of the key local meals or your...
Shopping in Beijing: 18 Travel Mementos
Today, it is safe to assume that 9 out of 10 souvenirs worldwide (regardless of the country) are made in China, the workshop of the world. But how about shopping for souvenirs in China itself and Beijing, in particular? Presented here are some of the traditional Chinese-made goods, initially...