Yongdingmen

This reconstructed gate marks the southern terminus of Beijing's historic central axis, the ceremonial spine running north to the Bell and Drum Towers. The original Ming-era gate was demolished in the 1950s, and the present structure, rebuilt in 2005, restores a lost element of the imperial city plan. Its tiered roofs and grey brick recreate the appearance of the vanished landmark within a landscaped park. Standing at the head of the axis now recognised for its heritage value, the gate helps visitors read the geometry of the old capital.