The Central Pavilion, also known as the Four-Arched Gateway, stands at the crossroads of old Puyang City. This square wooden-and-stone structure is 8.6 meters tall and 6.6 meters on each side, covering an area of 43.56 square meters. Four stone pillars support its roof.

The entire roof is built of wood with tightly fitted tenon-and-mortise joints. Bracket sets underpin the four corners, holding up the upturned eaves covered with shimmering bluish-green glazed tiles. Eight vivid stone lions crouch along the main ridge. On the four sloping ridges are sculpted dragons, phoenixes, fish and horses, depicting a lively scene of soaring dragons and phoenixes, leaping fish and galloping horses. Copper bells hang from the decorative ornaments at each corner, tinkling gently in the wind.

The interior is adorned with exquisite paintings and carved beams and rafters. Four large horizontal stone tablets on the outer walls bear bold, powerful characters the size of large wine vessels, inscribed by calligrapher Liu Wenxuan. The inscriptions read: Former Capital of Zhuanxu on the east, Ancient Chanyuan Prefecture on the west, Bulwark of Heshuo on the south, and Key to the Northern Frontier on the north. These four phrases epitomize Puyang's long history and strategically important geographical location.

The southern inscription Bulwark of Heshuo has profound implications. As explained in Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Simple and Analyzing Compound Characters), the character Shuo originally means "the beginning". In ancient times, the north was regarded as the origin of all things, hence it was also called Shuofang, and the region north of the Yellow River was named Heshuo.

Records of Military Affairs in the History of the Song Dynasty states: "Heshuo stretches for thousands of li, with thirty-six connected cities. It boasts dense population and abundant resources on flat land. Before the Jingde reign, border garrisons were frequently deployed here, yet large armies seldom achieved decisive victories." This proves that military defense north of the Yellow River was always a top priority prior to the Song Dynasty, and Puyang occupied an especially vital position in this region.

Puyang was described as "flanking Daliang and adjoining Eastern Commandery", and "lying between the Yellow River and Ji River as a hub linking the north and the south". Guarded by the natural barrier of the Yellow River and located in the Central Plains, it served as a vital north-south transportation artery and a strategic stronghold contested by military forces since ancient times. As a symbol of Puyang's historical status, the Central Pavilion is a valuable relic for the study of wooden architectural craftsmanship of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Most accounts date the construction of the Four-Arched Gateway back to the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty. Records of Kaizhou Prefecture compiled in the Jiajing reign notes: "The Four-Arched Gateway stands at the city center crossroads. Its east tablet is inscribed for the Judicial Vice Commissioner, the west for the Censor-in-Chief, the south marks the Ancient Capital of Zhuanxu, and the north the Hometown of Ji An. It was erected by Long Dayou, prefect of Kaizhou."

According to the modern Records of Puyang County, the Central Pavilion was built in the 26th year of the Jiajing reign (1547). The Jiajing-era Records of Kaizhou Prefecture was compiled under the supervision of Wang Chongqing and completed in the tenth month of the 13th year of the Jiajing reign (1534). Long Dayou took office as prefect in the 22nd year of the Jiajing reign (1543) and founded the Mingdao Academy in the city. Since the recorded construction year of 1547 came later, and Li Yiyuan rather than Long Dayou was the serving prefect at that time, the exact founding year of the gateway remains to be further verified.

In addition, the Jiajing-era records mention the southern tablet as Ancient Capital of Zhuanxu. It is yet to be confirmed when and by whom the eastern inscription was renamed Former Capital of Zhuanxu. This issue is closely related to the location of Zhuanxu's imperial capital and merits further research by scholars.

The four large characters on each lintel carry unique historical meanings. The eastern inscription Former Capital of Zhuanxu refers to Gaocheng in the southeastern part of old Puyang City, once the imperial capital of Zhuanxu, a legendary sovereign of remote antiquity. The western inscription Ancient Chanyuan Prefecture indicates that Puyang was the former seat of Chanyuan Prefecture in the Song Dynasty, with the ancient Chanyuan situated to its southwest.

The northern inscription Key to the Northern Frontier originates from a remark made by Kou Zhun, a distinguished statesman and military strategist of the Northern Song Dynasty who made remarkable contributions to consolidating the imperial regime and boosting social development. Kou Zhun once governed Daming Prefecture, then known as the Northern Capital of the Song Dynasty (present-day Daming County, Hebei Province).

Someone once asked him: "You enjoy high prestige, why do you not hold a post in the central council?" Kou Zhun replied: "The imperial court enjoys peace, yet no one but me can hold the key to defend the northern frontier." His words reflected that guarding Daming was a mission critical to national security. Puyang was under the jurisdiction of Daming Prefecture at that time. Originally referring to the keeper of the northern gate, the phrase Key to the Northern Frontier later became a metaphor for major strategic towns in northern China