Zhengyangmen is a fortress - like structure , which was built for the city s defense in 1439 正阳门箭楼从它建成的那天起，一直是老北京的象徵。
2.
The zhengyangmen or front gate , means south - facing gate is a 38 - metre - high brick structure and located at qianmen front gate , south of 正阳门箭楼始建于明正统四年1439年，位于前门大街北端，系北京城中轴线
3.
The tower was burned down several times before it was reconstructed in 1914 . it was the pass the emperor used for travel to the temple of heaven for worshipping ceremonies 1928年辟为国货陈列所， 30年代增设电影院， 1949年艺人魏喜奎等组织大众游艺社在箭楼演出。
4.
It was built in 1420 in the early ming dynasty and renovated in 1977 . in the old days , watchtowers placed at regular intervals around the perimeter guarded the wall . the double gate system played an important role in repulsing enemy attacks 明清时期正阳门城楼与箭楼之间原有一个巨大的瓮城，南端呈弧形抹角，箭楼坐落在顶端，瓮城南北长108米，东西宽88米，内有空场，四向均有门。
