The Forbidden City was not only the residence of the emperors but also the venue for the highest level of rituals, such as the enthronement of the emperor and the starting point for ritual activities outside the imperial palace. Thus, the Axis forms a ritual space linked by central roads, consisting of the imperial palace, garden, and sacrificial buildings.

The gates on Beijing Central Axis from the south to the north in the order of the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the Meridian Gate, the Upright Gate, and the Tiananmen Gate were where specific ceremonies were held or where guards of honor must pass in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The architectural design of these city gates also highlights the connotation of etiquette. The high-grade buildings and their magnificent volumes reflect the significant difference from the other gates of Beijing’s Ming-Qing Old City outside the central axis. They constitute a tangible representation of the imperial ceremonial paths of the Ming and Qing dynasties, providing a powerful material witness to the etiquette culture of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Meridian Gate is the main entrance of the Forbidden City. Its design came from the traditional quemen (ceremonial gate tower). It was the late form of the evolution of the gate system in ancient China and also the most complete example of this architectural form. The Meridian Gate takes the “凹” shape in plan, forming a courtyard with rooms on both sides to evoke a strong sense of depth. It became the leading ceremonial sequencing space for the palace city’s rites and ceremonies. The oppressive and withdrawn spatial atmosphere is formed through the city gates and the high walls, sharply contrasting the Gate of Supreme Harmony Square to highlight the majesty of the monarch.

The location of the Forbidden City has remained unchanged since its completion during the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty. Its layout of having the court in the front and dwellings in the back has remained intact. The space from the Gate of Supreme Harmony to the Gate of Heavenly Purity was where the emperor discussed and addressed state affairs with his courtiers. The Gate of Supreme Harmony marks the entrance of the Outer Court, where the emperor held daily court meetings and hosted banquets. The highlights of the Outer Court are the Three Main Halls. The Hall of Supreme Harmony was where the grand yearly gathering of officials took place, and essential ceremonies such as enthroning a new emperor were performed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Hall of Central Harmony was where the emperor received officials congratulating the ceremony and read their congratulatory articles before a grand ceremony began. The Ming dynasty emperors used the Hall of Preserving Harmony to change their clothes before a significant ceremony, and by the Qing dynasty scholars to take their final imperial examinations.