Yingtian Gate

The Yingtian Gate, Ying Tian Men or Ōtenmon (Traditional Chinese: 應天門; Simplified Chinese: 应天门, Kyūjitai: 応天門) was the southern gate of the imperial palace in Luoyang during the Sui and Tang dynasties, and it may have been the largest city gate in ancient China. Ancient Japan constructed capital gates with the same names in the cities of Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto) and Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara).

Yingtian Gate

Yingtian Gate in Luoyang

It was originally built in 605 AD, the first year of the Daye era of the Sui dynasty, and was initially named the Zetian Gate(則天門). In 705 AD, the first year of the Shenlong era, the gate's name was changed to Yingtian Gate to avoid the naming taboo of Empress Wu Zetian. The gate was destroyed during the Northern Song dynasty and was reconstructed at its original site in 2016.

The Yingtian Gate served as a ceremonial and celebratory venue for the Sui, Tang, and Wuzhou dynasties under Empress Wu Zetian's rule. Emperor Gaozong of Tang once issued an edict here to release King Uija of Baekje, and Empress Wu Zetian ascended to the throne and declared herself emperor at this location. The emperors also received foreign envoys, such as the Japanese envoys to Sui and Tang, at the Yingtian Gate.

The 2016 reconstruction project cost approximately 350 million yuan (RMB) and was designed by architect Guo Daiheng. The city gate stands 120 Chinese feet tall (equivalent to 35 meters today), has a depth of 25 meters, and is situated on a 9.2-meter-high base. The base measures 137 meters in width from east to west and has a north–south depth of 60 meters. The base houses a museum that showcases the ancient ruins of the Yingtian Gate. After its reconstruction, the Yingtian Gate serves as a city landmark and features a public square where citizens can visit and relax.