Paldalmun Gate is the southern gate of Hwaseong Fortress, and its name means "a gate opening to a road that leads to all directions." Among the four gates of Hwaseong Fortress, the northern and southern gates are bigger and more grandiose. The gate has an entrance wide enough to let the king's palanquin pass through and a watchtower over the entrance. Outside of the gate is a crescent-shaped protection wall called ongseong.

Among the ongseong walls found across the country, Paldalmun Gate's ongseong wall stands out in terms of size and form. The hip roof and decorations seen on Paldalmun Gate's watchtower resemble that of fortress watchtowers, and are recognized as representation of late Joseon dynasty's watchtower architecture.