Tiananmen (simplifie Chinese: 天安门; traditional Chinese: 天安門; pinyin: Tiānānmén), literally the "Gate of Heavenly Peace", is a famous monument in Beijing, the capital of China. It is a widely used national symbol. First built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420, Tiananmen is often referred to as the front entrance to the Forbidden City. This is a common misconception because officially, the Meridian Gate (午门) is the entrance to the Forbidden City. Tiananmen is located along the northern edge of Tiananmen Square.