Xinhuamen, Government gate in Xicheng District, China
Xinhuamen is the main entrance to Zhongnanhai, featuring three gateway openings with traditional Qing Dynasty architectural details and stone barriers. The structure comprises multiple sequential gates and walls that create a layered boundary between the street and the compound beyond.
Built in 1758, the gate originally separated imperial territory from public spaces and functioned as a formal entrance during multiple dynasties. Its architecture and role adapted to successive political systems while maintaining continuity as an access point to power centers.
The gate serves as a visual boundary between everyday city life and the seat of government, embodying how power presents itself to the public.
The gate is not open to the public, with security personnel controlling all access for authorized government officials only. You can view and photograph it from the street while maintaining respectful distance from the entrance area.
Historically, officials had to dismount from their transportation at a specific point before entering the compound, a ritual that underscores the ceremonial nature of crossing from public to restricted space. This tradition reflects how access and hierarchy were physically expressed in the architecture itself.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
