Forbidden City ---Gate of Divine Prowess

Situated to the north of the palace, it was an important access to the Forbidden City. It was specially for the emperor’s concubines and other members of the royal family. The empresses of the Ming and the Qing dynasties always exited from this gate to hold the Silkworm Feeding Ceremony. When the emperor left the palace for an inspection visit, he could go through the Meridian Gate (Wumen), while his entourage had to leave through the Gate of Divine Prowess. When the emperor accompanied the empress dowager, they would go out together through the Gate of Divine Prowess.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), the emperors usually entered the palace by the Gate of Divine Prowess after a trip to the Old Summer Palace and Rehe (the bordering area of present Hebei and Liaoning provinces as well as Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region). The candidates for the triennial Preparative Concubine Choosing also entered the palace through this entrance. In 1924, Emperor Puyi was just expelled from the palace from it.