Beimen Cheng'en Gate Introduction
Taipei's ancient city has a total of five gates: East Gate (Jingfu Gate), West Gate (Baocheng 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 Liu Ming-chuan's administration, encouraging merchants to invest in constructing houses within Taipei City, forming streets and promoting development. The North Gate, also known as Cheng'en Gate, faces north and signifies "receiving the grace of Heaven." It is the only remaining traditional Minnan-style city gate in Taipei. Its important location serves as a landmark in the 'West District' of the old Taipei area, and during the Qing Dynasty, it was the core gateway from the city to Dadaocheng. Consequently, the West District Gate project centers around the North Gate, connecting with surrounding historical sites from the Japanese colonial period such as the "Ministry of Railways," "Taipei Post Office," "Osaka Trading Company," "Mitsui Warehouse," as well as Qing Dynasty landmarks like the "Western-style buildings on Futai Street" and "Machinery Bureau." This creates a "surface" history of scenic spots and builds a national gateway image at the plaza in front of Taipei Station, linking Taipei Station to the North Gate. In recent years, as the concept of preserving cultural heritage has arisen, the North Gate, which was originally planned for demolition, was preserved. The North Gate has become the only ancient city gate maintained in its Qing Dynasty appearance among the five gates, making it one of Taipei's most precious designated national monuments. Due to its early defensive function, it also serves as a historical testament to national defense.
