Rebuilt in 1409 to replace the Yuan Dynasty structure initially in its place, the Imperial Granary predates the Forbidden City by ten years, and remains the only surviving granary of its kind. The imperial granaries – of which there were seven in what is now known as the Chaoyangmen area – were vital crop storage locations for the imperial household. Through its history, the Imperial Granary has witnessed 2 dynasties, 24 emperors, the fall of KMT and the rise of CCP. In 2001 the structure was granted the title of Key Cultural Relics of the State.
Currently, the Granary hosts private events and weekly traditional Kunqu opera performances.