The city wall and gate characterize the Forbidden City as well as Beijing. In the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City is enclosed by the Imperial City, where relatives of emperors and empresses used to live. Out of the Imperial City is the Interior City, where officials and 
aristocrats used to live.
In today's map of Beijing, there are still many places named cheng (city) and men (gate), but the majority of them exist in name only, For instance, Qiansanmen (Three Front Gates) refers to Xuanwu Gate, Qianmen Gate and Chongwen Gate. But the three old city gates no longer exist; now, a wide boulevard called the Second Ring Road stands in its place. Where the ancient observatory now stands is a part of the old city wall left especially for people to visit today. In the 1950s, the early stages of New China, Beijing began to pull down the old city wall to facilitate transportation. The recent reform and opening make Beijing residents more enthusiastic to improve roads and build bridges in the city. Hence numerous overpasses that make transport even more convenient.
>>>>>>back to Beijing: Leaving the Imperial mall and Siheyuan<<<<<
