A man jumped from the Tian'anmen gate in central Beijing at about 3:50 p.m. Sunday and injured himself, local police sources said.

Witnesses said he jumped from a northwestern terrace of the gate and dropped on the stairway to the west of the gate.

The man was rushed to hospital and was under police investigation. But he remained silent about his identity and motivation.

The Tian'anmen gate tower, or Gate of Heavenly Peace of the imperial palace in Beijing, was built in 1417 and opened to the public for the first time on Jan. 1, 1988.

Located to the north of Tian'anmen Square, the gate has been the site of important gatherings since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The ticket for the gate costs 15 yuan (about US$2.1).

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2008)