On Kaifeng City's southern wall stand three gates. The middle one is called Main South Gate. The ancients spo…
On Kaifeng City's southern wall stand three gates. The middle one is called Main South Gate.
The ancients spoke of the four celestial beasts, each guarding a direction: Azure Dragon in the East, White Tiger in the West, Vermilion Bird in the South, and Black Tortoise in the North. Thus, the southern gate bears the name of the Vermilion Bird.
Enter the city through Main South Gate and behold:
a long avenue lined with broad markets, ten thousand households. This is South Imperial Street, also called South Gate Avenue, stretching straight to Xuande Gate at the palace's edge.
Follow its path, and you'll see shops densely packed,
peach and plum trees planted along the road,
crowds weaving endlessly, carts and carriages in a ceaseless flow. Prosperity fills the eye.