Chang'an! Chang'an!
This article is specially produced by Jintai Tang 618
One of the most grandly scaled cities in terms of layout
(Please view horizontally: panoramic view of Xi'an city, which was once part of the palace area of Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, photographer @ Gou Bingchen)
(Daming Palace Heritage Park, the text above is from the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei's "Harmonizing with Jia Sheren's Early Court at Daming Palace," photographer @ Wang Fugui)
The dream city in the hearts of many Chinese
Reduced Tang Chang'an to dust and ruins
"The autumn breeze stirs the Wei River, fallen leaves blanket Chang'an"
"With spring winds of triumph, the horse's hooves fly swiftly, viewing all Chang'an's flowers in a single day"
"A fleeting life is best spent aging before wine, snow covering Chang'an's roads"
(Giant Wild Goose Pagoda framed with Zhongnan Mountains, the texts above are quoted from Jia Dao's "Remembering Wu Chushi on the River," Meng Jiao's "After Passing the Imperial Exams," and Shu Dan's "Yu Meiren: To Gongdu," photographer @ Zhu Haoyin)
From the perspective of urban planning and architecture
Let’s explore this dream city from 1400 years ago
(Qinling Mountains and the Guanzhong Plain, photographer @ Sun Yan)
And the Jing River originating from the Loess Plateau
(Distribution map of modern water systems in Xi'an, cartographer @ Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
The mighty "Eight Rivers" divide the Guanzhong Plain
Into highlands and hills of varying sizes
Such as the White Deer Plain between the Ba and Chan Rivers
The Longshou Plain between the Wei, Ba, and Chan Rivers
The Shaoling Plain and Leyou Plain between the Chan and Jue Rivers
(The plains divided by the Wei River, photographer @Shehu)
The Guanzhong Plain, with abundant water sources and fertile soil
Was bestowed with the glorious title of "Land of Abundance"
Its terrain, surrounded by mountains and rivers, made it easy to defend but hard to attack
Thus attracting numerous emperors to establish their capitals here
(Changes of ancient capitals in Xi'an, map by @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
Liu Bang, who emerged victorious from the Chu-Han Contention
Named it after the Chang'an Village on the south bank of the Wei River
(Swipe left/right to view, layout diagram of Han Chang'an City, map by @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
Approximately 2.4-3 times the size of Rome during the same period
(Please view horizontally, partial aerial view of the Weiyang Palace ruins in Han Chang'an City, photographer @Bai Yang)
Nearly 800 years after the establishment of Han Chang'an City
Chang'an welcomed another great unified dynasty
(Ruins of the Weiyang Palace in Han Chang'an City, photographer @Li Wenbo)
The Sui Dynasty outright abandoned Han Chang'an City
(Swipe left/right for more, layout diagram of Sui-Tang Chang'an City, map by @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
The 28-year-old genius planner Yuwen Kai
Designed this unprecedented ancient city
With an area of approximately 84 square kilometers
It surpassed the vast majority of ancient cities in China
(Modern Xi'an, the area shown in the image roughly corresponds to the palace city of the Sui Dynasty, photographer @ Chen Xiao)
The Tang Dynasty's Chang'an City was broadly composed of three parts
Encompassing the homes of the populace and the imperial palaces
Tang Chang'an was a city for a million souls
From high-ranking officials to common citizens
(Schematic diagram of residential areas in Chang'an City; the data above is based on measurements from the Tang Chang'an City map in the "National Historical Atlas" and is for reference only, cartography by @ Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Extremely strict order was undoubtedly necessary
Six main streets and other thoroughfares
Divided Chang'an City into over 100 small grids
(Schematic diagram of the six main streets of Chang'an City, cartography by @ Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
The widest of the six streets, Zhuque Gate Street
Split the entire Chang'an City into two halves
Could accommodate over 100 horses advancing side by side
(Schematic diagram of Zhuque Gate Street, cartography by @ Zheng Borong & Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
With widths ranging between 40-75 meters
Also guarded by 5-30 sentinels
Among them, those located along the city's central axis
(Mingde Gate illustration, reference from "Yang Hongxun's Collected Papers on Architectural Archaeology," cartography by @ Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Massive bracket sets and imposing architecture
Represented the facade and image of Chang'an City
(Mingde Gate illustration, mapped by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
And the multitude living within the city
whether nobles or commoners
all residential wards were enclosed by walls about 3 meters high
and guarded by 5-30 soldiers
No one was allowed to enter or leave the wards at night without permission
(Swipe left/right for more, layout diagram of residential wards. The drumbeat description above is quoted from "The New Book of Tang": "Drums sounded from within, echoed by street drums, ward and market gates opened, with 3,000 drum strikes," mapped by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
The drumbeats of over 100 wards followed in sequence
while over 200 temples in the city rang morning bells
Layer upon layer of palace gates, city gates, and ward gates
"Gazing back at Chang'an, embroidered mounds arise; mountain peaks unfold a thousand gates in order"
(Diagram of Chang'an city gates, the quote above is from Du Mu's "Three Poems on Passing Huaqing Palace," mapped by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Not only constrained by time and space
(Tang tri-colored pottery courtyard, photographed by Li Wenbo)
The wards close to the imperial palace
were particularly favored by high officials and nobles
leading to mansions filling the eastern part of the city
Figures like Liu Gongquan and Bai Juyi resided here
(Layout diagram of noble mansions in Chang'an, mapped by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Guided by artificially dug canals
Providing water for daily life, irrigation, and transportation to the entire city
And connecting to a broader river network
There were at least seven major canals around Chang'an
Ensuring the supply of goods from beyond the Guanzhong region
(Schematic diagram of Chang'an's water system, mapped by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Labs)
People planted locust trees, willows, elms, and more along the banks of the diversion channels
These green plants also became one of the themes celebrated in Tang poetry
"The imperial street is moistened by gentle rain like cream, Grass hues afar are seen but near disappear."
"This is the best time of spring's fresh charm, Far better than misty willows filling the royal town."
(Please view horizontally, overlooking the Xingqing Palace Ruins Park in late autumn. The above lines are from Han Yu's "Early Spring Presented to Zhang Ji, the Water Department Secretary," photographer: Han Fei)
The "Eight Rivers" also nourished the lush greenery of Leyou Plateau
From here, one could gaze east at the Chan River and south at Qujiang
Du Fu praised it as "Leyou's ancient garden, emerald and dense."
Li Shangyin sighed, "The setting sun is infinitely lovely."
(Spring on Leyou Plateau. The above lines are from Du Fu's "Song of Leyou Garden" and Li Shangyin's "On Leyou Plateau," photographer: Shehu)
People also utilized the low-lying area in the southeast corner of the city
(Qujiang Pool Ruins Park, image source: Visual China)
Not only did the Qujiang Pool shimmer with golden ripples
But its waters were also brewed into a green-hued wine
还能酿作一种绿色的酒浆
Known as "green ants" or "green unfiltered wine"
"Newly brewed green ant wine, a small red clay stove"
"As evening comes and snow threatens, won't you join me for a cup?"
(Gilded silver pot in the shape of a leather flask with dancing horse design, the above lines are from Bai Juyi's "Asking Liu the Nineteenth," photographer @ Liu Yedao)
Li Bai, who "laughingly entered the tavern of a foreign maiden"
Meng Jiao, who "with spring breeze in his heart, galloped his horse swiftly"
(Map of notable residences in Tang Dynasty Chang'an, the above lines are from Li Bai's "Two Poems of Youthful Adventures" and Meng Jiao's "After Passing the Imperial Examination," cartography @ Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
Tang Chang'an was also a stage for emperors
Three major palace complexes including Daming Palace and Xingqing Palace
(Map of palace areas in Chang'an, the data is based on measurements from the "National Historical Atlas" map of Tang Chang'an, for reference only, cartography @ Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
This area occupied the core position of the entire city
The current scope of the Ming-Qing era Xi'an ancient city
(Please view horizontally, panoramic view of Xi'an ancient city, photographer @ Yu Ming)
(The massive Daming Palace Ruins Park, image courtesy of @ Visual China Group)
Here stood not only the widest roads in the city
But also over 20 palaces of varying sizes
(Panoramic schematic of Daming Palace, cartography @ Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Located on the high ground of Longshou Plateau
The Dragon Tail Path leading to the main hall of Hanyuan Palace
(Please view horizontally, schematic of the Dragon Tail Path at Hanyuan Palace, cartography @ Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
as well as watching large-scale performances by court entertainers of the Tang Dynasty
(Schematic diagram of the que towers at Hanyuan Hall, illustration by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Would the emperors standing here
feel a surge of unparalleled pride in their hearts?
(Please view horizontally, schematic of Hanyuan Hall, illustration by Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang specifically named a tower
(Chenxiang Pavilion in Xingqing Palace, referenced in Li Bai's poem as "leaning against the railing north of Chenxiang Pavilion," photographer: Li Qiong)
reflected in every aspect of daily life
It became fashionable to give exquisitely crafted bronze mirrors as gifts
(Bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting scholars feasting, a Tang innovation applying shell-inlay craftsmanship to mirrors, photographer: Liu Yedao)
The silk textiles used by the imperial nobility
(Embroidered fragment with winged horse pattern on damask ground, photographer: Liu Yedao)
not only met the needs of the people
but also became a major commodity exported abroad
Thus, the main channel for China's foreign trade
was later called the "Silk Road"
(Please view horizontally, schematic of the Tang Silk Road, illustration by Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
Merchants and goods from various countries flooded into Chang'an
creating the world's busiest commercial center at the time
(Today's West Market, image source: Visual China Group)
The "Hu people" from all over the world
brought a wave of "Hu-style" culture to Chang'an city
(Tang Dynasty Hu-style pastries and utensils, collected by the National Museum, unearthed in Turpan, photographer@Liu Yedao)
(Tang Dynasty women wearing Hu-style clothing, depicted in a colored silk painting of a female dancer, unearthed from Astana Tomb 230, photographer@Liu Yedao)
The Hu merchants introduced Zoroastrianism, Persian Nestorianism
as well as Buddhism, which had arrived in China earlier
(The Small Wild Goose Pagoda in autumn, photographer@Shehu)
The land was occupied by religious buildings
(Religious buildings in Chang'an city; the data above is based on measurements from the "National Historical Atlas" map of Tang Chang'an, for reference only, graphics@Yang Ning & Wang Shenwen/Planet Research Institute)
(The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda after snow, photographer@Shehu)
(Internal structure diagram of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, graphics@Zhang Jing/Planet Research Institute)
(Schematic diagram of each floor of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, graphics@Zhang Jing/Planet Research Institute)
They were also grand in architectural scale
(Xiangji Temple, photographer@Li Wenbo)
Crown Prince Li Xian donated his residence to establish Qianfu Temple
Princess Taiping built Wuji Temple for Empress Wu Zetian
There were at least 192 religious buildings
The largest one occupied nearly an entire city block
(Daxingshan Temple, occupying the entire Jingshan Block in Chang'an city, photographer@Luo Zihan)
(Stone lion at the Zhuque Gate of Tang Dingling, photographer@Shehu)
"The imperial treasury burned to ashes of brocade, the bones of nobles trampled upon the heavenly streets"
(Before the Qianling Mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty, the statues of sixty-one foreign envoys with damaged heads. The above lines are quoted from Wei Zhuang's "The Ballad of the Qin Woman," photographer @ Li Wenbo)
Even if Tang Chang'an city vanished without a trace
The eastern wall of the main gate corridor of the Potala Palace
Still preserves a painting of Tang Chang'an city
(The Potala Palace, originally built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to marry Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, photographer @ Xiao Feng)
The capital ruins of the Bohai Kingdom from the Tang Dynasty survive to this day
(Please swipe left or right to view more. Layout illustration of the Upper Capital of Bohai Kingdom, located in Ning'an, Heilongjiang, mapped by @ Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
Bearing a striking resemblance to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Tang Chang'an city
(The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in Dali. The tallest Qianxun Pagoda was built during the Nanzhao period, standing at 69.13 meters; the two smaller pagodas were built during the Dali Kingdom period, approximately 42 meters tall, photographer @ Li Yiheng)
And Chang'an itself became in people's hearts
4,526 place names related to Chang'an
3,090 brands related to Chang'an
Countless novels and TV dramas related to Chang'an
Countless people are searching for that place
Countless people are reminiscing about that era
(Chang'an Tower, the emblem of the 2011 Xi'an International Horticultural Exposition. The above data is sourced from China National Geographic Names Database and China Trademark Office, photographer @ Li Wenbo)
The Vermilion Bird Avenue under the feet of today's pedestrians
The same path once walked by Li Bai and Bai Juyi
(The current Vermilion Bird Avenue in Xi'an, photographer @ Li Wenbo)
Once studied Buddhist teachings at Qinglong Temple in Chang'an
and later returned to Japan to establish the Shingon sect
contributing to the spread of Tang culture in Japan
jointly built a monument and memorial hall for Kukai
This is also the first Tang-style restored building in Xi'an
(Yunfeng Pavilion in Qinglong Temple, photo by @Shehu)
Surrounded by numerous Chang'an ruins like Yanxing Gate
Jintai Hengye, under Shaanxi Investment Group
chose this irreplaceable location
to延续 the symbols and memories of the prosperous Tang era
(Swipe left/right to view the renderings of Jintai·Tang 618 project)
Within the remaining urban fabric of Chang'an
As a standout among them, Jintai·Tang 618
also seeks to connect the city's past and future
On this land where antiquity and modernity blend
a new metropolitan lifestyle is about to begin
(Location map of Jintai·Tang 618, designed by Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)
Its surrounding Qujiang and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda commercial districts
cater to modern life and entertainment
while bustling with crowds just as they did a thousand years ago
(Tang Paradise, image from @VCG)
When we look through these remaining vestiges
We can still glimpse the lingering elegance of Chang'an
And feel the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty a thousand years ago
Today, the ruins of Tang Chang'an lie quietly within
This bustling metropolis of over 10 million permanent residents
Awaiting rediscovery by future generations of this
Professor Ge Chengyong, Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage
Master's graduate from Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 6,000 years of history
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[2] Tanio Tatsuhiko, Gao Bingbing. Urban Planning of Chang'an[M]. Sanqin Publishing House, 2012.
[3] Liu Qingzhu. Underground Chang'an[M]. Zhonghua Book Company, 2016.
[4] Hiraoka Takeo. Chang'an and Luoyang in the Tang Dynasty[M]. Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1991.
[5] Wang Caiqiang. Digital Reconstruction of Tang Chang'an[M]. China Architecture & Building Press, 2006.
[6] Cheng Zhi. Modern Research Progress on Sui-Tang Chang'an Architecture[J]. Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 2014.