Beimen Cheng'en Gate Introduction
The Taipei Old City has a total of five city gates: East Gate (Gongguan 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 the construction of houses within Taipei City, forming streets and promoting development. The North Gate, also known as Cheng'en Gate, faces north, symbolizing "receiving heavenly grace." It is the only remaining southern Fujian-style city gate in Taipei, and its strategic location makes it a pivotal landmark in the modern "West District" of old Taipei. During the Qing rule, it served as a core gateway from "within the city" to "Dadaocheng." Thus, the West District gateway plan centers on the North Gate, linking surrounding historical sites from the Japanese occupation era, such as the "Railway Department," "Taipei Post Office," "Osaka Trading Company," "Mitsui Warehouse," and Qing Dynasty-era buildings like "Futai Street Foreign Buildings" and "Machinery Bureau," forming a historical site network. This also creates the image of a national gateway at the travel plaza in front of Taipei Station, connecting Taipei Station to the North Gate. In recent years, as the concept of preserving cultural heritage has gained momentum, the North Gate, which was originally intended for demolition in construction planning, has been preserved in its original form. The North Gate has become the only ancient city gate among the five that retains its appearance from the Qing Dynasty, making it one of Taipei's most precious designated historic sites. Due to its early defensive function, it also stands as a historic witness to national defense.
