Taihe Gate is the main gate of the imperial palace outside the Forbidden City. It is the highest standard gate in ancient China and belongs to one of the five gates of the Son of Heaven. In the Ming Dynasty, Taihe Gate was a place where "the royal gate listened to government affairs", where the emperor received worship and letters from his subjects, issued imperial edicts, and handled government affairs. There are two bronze lions on each side of the gate, which were cast by the Ming Dynasty and are the largest pair of bronze lions in the Forbidden City.