East Gate - Gyeongbokgung Gate Introduction
Dongmen, also known as Jingfu Gate, is a key passageway leading to the eastern part of Taipei City, specifically to the Kongdao in Songshan. It holds significant national defense meaning as it faces the important northern port of Keelung. The street that connects the city to Dongmen, known as "Dongmen Street," corresponds to today's Keelung Road. Today, Dongmen, located right in front of the Presidential Office, has become a vital path for many rallies and parades, providing it with numerous opportunities for media coverage. It can be considered the most familiar city gate for people across Taiwan and serves as an important hub for politics and transportation in the area. Among the five gates of Taipei City at that time, Dongmen is the most intricately built. Decorated with the name Jingfu Gate, its architectural structure is similar to that of Beimen, consisting of sturdy brick walls that extend directly to the eaves atop a stone base, resembling an unbreakable square fortress. Within the double-layered brick walls lies a wooden structure. The roof adopts a four-sided sloping style, which is simple and elegant. The eaves are adorned with green glazed hollow flower bricks, adding to its charm. Unfortunately, it was later modified into a Northern Chinese palace-style city tower; however, its stone base and arched entrance remain as original materials. The archway is constructed with stone blocks featuring a semi-circular arch, and the frame retains decorative thunder patterns, still possessing considerable historical value.
