 Running southward from Xuande Gate was the Imperial Boulevard , about two hundred paces wide , with the Imperial <unk> on either side . <unk> opened shops in the <unk> until <unk> , when they were banned . Two rows of black fencing were placed at the center of the boulevard as a barrier to pedestrians and carriages . Along the inner sides of the fences ran the brick @-@ lined Imperial Water <unk> , filled with lotus . About 400 m ( 1 @,@ 300 ft ) south from Xuande Gate , the <unk> River intercepted the Imperial Boulevard , which crossed it over the stone Zhou Bridge , <unk> and flat @-@ <unk> . This design of a boulevard with a stone bridge crossing a river was later imitated in the Forbidden City . During spring and summer , <unk> peach , plum , pear and apricot trees adorned the banks of the <unk> with a variety of flowers . 
