Gate of Celestial Purity

Qianqingmen, Gate of Celestial Purity, is the main gate of the Inner Court. In front of the gate, there is a square which runs 200 meters long from east to west and extends only 30 meters from north to south. The square separates the Outer Court and the Inner Court and integrates them.

 

In the Qing dynasty, it was the place where emperors, sitting on the throne set in the middle of the gate, heard reports and made decisions. The huts standing left and right are duty rooms and waiting rooms for ministers waiting for interviews, etc.

 

Outside of the gate, against the red wall are ten gilded bronze vats, shining. The huge vats are decorations and reservoirs in case of fire. Every one of these vats weighs 4 tons itself and can hold 4 tons water. There are totally 308 vats in the whole palace, including 22 of this kind.

 

In the north is Qianqinggong (Palace of Celestial Purity) >>

Go west to see Yangxindian (Hall of Mental Cultivation) >>

Go east to see Fengxiandian (Hall for Ancestral Worship) & Dongliugong (Six Eastern Palaces) >>