Phoenix Palace Hotel Beijing is located in an area that had played such a big role in Beijing’s history.
A few hundred meters west of our hotel, there stands the De Sheng Gate. The towering gate used to part of Beijing’s fortification system finished over 500 years ago.
De Sheng means ‘Triumph’ in Chinese. And triumph the Chinese empire did need.
History accounts tell that the imperial army set out from this gate for war. The emperor would also come to throw a farewell party for his generals.
When there was no war, the gate functioned as a time-telling tower. Cannon would be fired at right noon. Thus everyone living in the city knew it was mid-day.
Today, the tower-style gate is open to the public. And there you can see a huge stone tablet engraved with a poem written by Emperor Qianlong.
