Yingtian Gate 应天门遗址

About Yingtian Gate

Today, a large protective reconstruction gives the gateway’s scale and projecting towers a visible form above the archaeological remains. The most useful comparison is between those remains and the modern building that interprets them. The exterior has become a prominent city landmark, but the original gate does not survive as the complete structure seen from the square.

The gate was originally built in the first year of the Daye era of the Sui dynasty (605) and initially named Zetian Gate (则天门); in the first year of the Shenlong era (705) it was renamed Yingtian Gate to avoid the naming taboo of Empress Wu Zetian (武则天). It was destroyed during the Northern Song dynasty, having stood for more than five hundred years, and its remains are preserved within the Yingtian Gate Ruins Museum (应天门遗址博物馆), rebuilt on the site in 2016.

The gate served as a ceremonial and celebratory venue for the Sui and Tang dynasties and for Empress Wu Zetian's Wu Zhou regime. Emperor Gaozong of Tang (唐高宗) issued an edict here to release King Uija of Baekje (扶余义慈), and Wu Zetian ascended the throne and declared herself emperor at this location. Emperors also received foreign envoys, including Japanese envoys to the Sui and Tang courts, at the gate.

What to look for

• The archaeological remains protected within the gate museum.
• The reconstructed central gate and flanking tower forms, which illustrate the palace entrance’s monumental layout.

The surrounding area

A city base for Longmen, soup breakfasts, old-city food streets and contemporary hanfu visitor districts.

Location & getting there

Getting to Yingtian Gate

Approach the Yingtian Gate area along Dingding Road near Kaixuan East Road in central Luoyang. Specify Yingtianmen when booking a local ride; Dingding Gate is a different monument farther south.