. ▁This ▁forb idden ▁area ▁was ▁opened ▁to ▁the ▁public ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 8 ▁and ▁now ▁forms ▁Sh eny ang ' s ▁Be iling ▁Park . ▁ ▁Description ▁The ▁site ▁is ▁aligned ▁on ▁a ▁north - s outh ▁axis ▁set ▁west ▁of ▁Sh eny ang ▁city ' s ▁old ▁north ▁axis . ▁This ▁access ▁forms ▁the ▁sacred ▁way ▁of ▁about ▁ 1 . 2   km ▁that ▁leads ▁from ▁the ▁park ▁gate ▁to ▁the ▁tomb ▁buildings . ▁The ▁way ▁itself ▁is ▁made ▁in ▁three ▁paths . ▁The ▁centre ▁path ▁was ▁for ▁the ▁de ities ▁only ▁or ▁bear ers ▁of ▁offer ings . ▁The ▁path ▁of ▁the ▁le f th and ▁( west ) ▁of ▁the ▁sacred ▁way ▁was ▁for ▁the ▁r uling ▁em peror ▁and ▁the ▁r ighth and ▁( east ) ▁path ▁was ▁for ▁officials ▁and ▁imperial ▁staff . ▁Half way ▁along ▁the ▁royal ▁way ▁stands ▁a ▁statue ▁of ▁Hong ▁Ta iji ▁in ▁a ▁bold ▁st ance ▁and ▁we aring ▁military ▁dress . ▁To ▁either ▁side ▁lie ▁extensive ▁park ▁lands ▁of ▁forest ▁and ▁la kes . ▁At ▁the ▁northern ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁royal ▁way , ▁the ▁route ▁cross es ▁a ▁bridge ▁over ▁a ▁lake ▁beyond ▁which ▁stand ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁gates ▁that ▁mark ▁the ▁entrance ▁to ▁the ▁inner ▁tomb ▁area . ▁▁ ▁The ▁first ▁gate ▁is ▁made ▁of ▁mar ble ▁with ▁orn ate ▁car v ings . ▁He avy ▁steel ▁supports ▁have ▁been ▁added ▁to ▁the ▁front ▁and ▁back ▁of ▁this ▁gate ▁to ▁prevent ▁it ▁falling ▁over . ▁The ▁second