Zijincheng was built in 1420 by the third Ming emperor Yongle who, upon usurping the throne, had decided to move his capital north to Beijing.

• 明代第三位皇帝朱棣在夺取帝位后，决定迁都北京，即开始营造这座宫殿，至明永乐十八年(1420年)落成。