A glimpse of splendor

With a depth of 19.3 meters and a width of 5.6 meters, the structure of Jinglong Gate consists of crossed pillars and beams, with earthen foundations on either side.

The walls between the entrance and exit of the gateway are about 4.7 meters wide and are made of rammed earth. Masonry platforms on both sides are about 16.7 meters wide.

"This demonstrates its exceptional ceremonial significance," Wang says. "It fills in many gaps in our study of city gates of that period."

He explains that construction of the city gate echoes records in the Yingzao Fashi (Treatise on Architectural Methods, or State Building Standards), a Northern Song manual on architecture and craftsmanship.