the tiananmen (also tian'anmen, tienanmen, t’ien-an men) (), or the gate of heavenly peace, is a monumental gate in the centre of beijing, widely used as a national symbol of china. first built during the ming dynasty in 1420, tiananmen was the entrance to the imperial city, within which the forbidden city was located. tiananmen is located to the north of tiananmen square, separated from the plaza by chang'an avenue.