Yongdingmen Gate Tower

Yongdingmen is the central one of the three southern gates of Beijing's outer city, facing Zhengyangmen from afar. It was built in the 32nd year of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, which is 1553 AD, and features a double-eaved Xieshan-style pavilion architecture. With the construction of Yongdingmen, the southern end of Beijing's central axis was extended from Zhengyangmen further south to Yongdingmen. Yongdingmen became the first grand gate when entering Beijing from the south, and also the starting point of Beijing's central axis. This axis has become the longest existing, longest-lasting, with the most buildings and varieties, and the most splendid urban central axis in the history of ancient city planning and construction. It is a miracle in the history of world urban construction. The establishment of Yongdingmen Gate Tower has to be traced back to the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, the nation was powerful, and Emperor Yongle took the offensive against the Mongol tribes, leading the army northward five times, and the security issue of Beijing was not prominent. Later, as the Ming Dynasty's power declined, it was repeatedly threatened by Mongol troops at the gates of the city, especially in the 29th year of Jiajing, which is 1550 AD, when Mongol leader Altan Khan led his forces to the suburbs of the capital, causing Emperor Jiajing a great shock. Thereafter, officials suggested building an outer city around Beijing with a circumference of about 80 li for security reasons. Due to insufficient funds, the design plan was changed on the advice of Yan Song. In the 43rd year of Jiajing, the outer city of Beijing was completed, and only one gate tower was built for Yongdingmen. Emperor Jiajing officially named it 'Yongdingmen', meaning 'forever peaceful'.