The south gate was used only on important national occasions and when high officials were given an audience with the emperor. The emperor himself usually used the west gate, while officials went by way of the east gate.
南邊的午門只有在國家大典日，大臣朝覲皇帝時才啟用；平日進出，皇帝走西華門，大臣走東華門；至於這座內廷北面的神武門，算是紫禁城的後門，專供皇帝家人出入。