Beimen Cheng'en Gate (Currently Closed) Introduction
The site is currently closed; please refer to the announcements from the relevant authorities for the reopening date. Taipei Old City has a total of five gates: East Gate (Qingfu Gate), West Gate (Baicheng Gate), South Gate (Lizheng Gate), Little South Gate (Chongxi Gate), and North Gate (Cheng'en Gate). They were built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty under the administration of Liu Mingchuan, encouraging merchants to invest in housing within Taipei City, forming streets and promoting development. The North Gate, also known as Cheng'en Gate, faces north and conveys the meaning of "receiving heavenly grace." It is the only remaining example of traditional Minnan-style architecture among the city gates. Its crucial location serves as a landmark in the "West District" of old Taipei, and during the Qing dynasty, it was the core gateway from "within the city" to "Dadaocheng." Therefore, the West District Gate Project centers on the North Gate and connects to surrounding historical sites from the Japanese rule such as the "Ministry of Railways," "Taipei Post Office," "Osaka Merchants," "Mitsui Warehouse," as well as Qing Dynasty landmarks like "Futai Street Western-style Buildings" and "Machinery Bureau," forming a historical context of "spatial" heritage sites, and creating the national gateway image in front of Taipei Station, connecting the space between Taipei Station and the North Gate. In recent years, with the rise of the idea of preserving cultural heritage, the North Gate, which was originally planned for demolition, has been retained in its original form as a historical monument. It is the only city gate among the five that has preserved its appearance from the Qing Dynasty, making it one of Taipei's most precious national monuments, and due to its early defensive function, it serves as a historical witness to national defense.
