Beimen Cheng'en Gate Introduction
Taipei's ancient city has a total of five city gates: East Gate (Jingfu Gate), West Gate (Baocheng Gate), South Gate (Lizheng Gate), Little South Gate (Chongxi Gate), and North Gate (Cheng'en Gate). These were built during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, initiated by Liu Mingchuan to encourage merchants to invest in building houses within Taipei City, leading to the development of streets and vibrant growth. The North Gate, also known as Cheng'en Gate, faces north and symbolizes "receiving divine grace." It is the last remaining traditional Minnan-style city gate in Taipei. Its significant location serves as a pivotal landmark in modern-day Taipei’s old town "West District," and during the Qing Dynasty, it was the main gateway connecting the city to "Dadaocheng." Therefore, the West District gateway plan centers around the North Gate and connects it with surrounding historical structures from the Japanese colonial period, such as the "Ministry of Railways," "Taipei Post Office," "Osaka Trading Company," "Mitsui Warehouse," as well as Qing Dynasty structures like the "Western-style buildings on Futai Street" and the "Machinery Bureau," forming a "face-like" historical attraction. It also creates the image of a national gateway at the travel plaza in front of Taipei Station, linking Taipei Station to the North Gate. In recent years, plans for the construction that would have removed the North Gate changed with the rising awareness of preserving cultural heritage, leading to the preservation of the North Gate as a historic site. The North Gate is the only ancient city gate that retains its appearance from the Qing Dynasty, making it one of Taipei's most treasured national historic monuments and a historical testament to its early defensive function.
