Wumen (The Meridian Gate)Ⅲ

The west-side gate was used only for entry and exit for princes and top-level officials, who were always the relatives of Emperors. Two subsidiary gates were only opened for large-scale events or ceremonies. The middle of the Wumen is a tower with 60.5 meters long and 25 meters wide, and belongs to the style of Double-Eave Wudian Roof. At both sides, there are bell tower and drum tower. On the day that the emperor went to Temple of Heaven and Temple of Earth for greeting prayer, the bell and drum would be sounded at the same time. Striking bell and striking drum were usually done in different occasions. The drum was only stricken when emperor went to show worshipping in Imperial Ancestral Temple, while Bell and Drum were both stricken when some large movements were done. The whole architecture of Wumen looks like the unfolding-wing phoenixes; hence Wumen is also called Five-Phoenix Tower (五凤楼).