The Daming Palace of the Tang Dynasty is a distinguished example of Eastern garden architecture and is acclaimed as the “Eastern Sanctuary of the Silk Road.” The Daming Palace site, listed as one of the first key cultural relic protection units announced by the State Council in 1961, is a crucial part of the Silk Road’s overall World Heritage application and is recognized by the International Council on Monuments and Sites as a significant global heritage conservation project.
The Tang Daming Palace is the most magnificent of the three major inner palaces of Tang Chang’an City (Taiji Palace, Daming Palace, and Xingqing Palace). It is located on the Longshou Plain in the northern suburbs of Xi’an. Construction of the Daming Palace began in the eighth year of the Zhenguan era (634 AD) during the reign of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, for his father Li Yuan. In the third year of the Longshuo era (663 AD), Emperor Gaozong expanded the palace, making it the most prominent and grandiose building of the Tang Dynasty. From the reign of Gaozong, many emperors governed here, and it served as the central hub of Tang governance for over two centuries.
The site of the Tang Daming Palace is roughly trapezoidal, covering an area of about 3.2 square kilometers. The palace walls have a perimeter of approximately 7.6 kilometers and contain 11 gates. Over 40 structures, including halls, terraces, towers, and pavilions, have been identified. The southern part of the palace includes the Front Palace, centered around the Hanyuan Hall, Xuanzheng Hall, and Zichen Hall, while the northern inner court centers around the Taiye Pool. The Daming Palace, with its vast scale, complete system, and long history as an imperial residence, is not only the center and symbol of national rule but also a representative example of Tang architectural culture and palace systems.
Travel Information of Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Ticket Prices and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: 60 RMB for a combined ticket.
Opening Hours:
- Peak Season: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Off-Season: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Getting to the Park
Location: 585 Ziqiang East Road, Xincheng District, Xi’an.
Transportation: Take Line 2 of the metro to Anyuanmen Station, then transfer to buses 2, 262, 528, or 723 to reach Daming Palace’s Danfeng Gate.
Attraction Ratings
- Cultural Significance: ★★★★
- Unique Features: ★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★★
- Scenic Beauty: ★★★
- Romance: ★★
- Excitement: ★★
Highlghts of Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Danfeng Gate
Danfeng Gate is the southernmost gate of the Daming Palace and represents the highest architectural standard for ancient Chinese city gates, known for its five gates system. The gate features the grand and towering Danfeng Tower. It is aligned with the Hanyuan Hall, Xuanzheng Hall, and Zichen Hall to the north, forming the central axis of the Daming Palace. This gate was the primary entrance and exit for Tang emperors and served as an important political venue for major state ceremonies over the more than two hundred years of the Tang Dynasty, including imperial coronations, era changes, amnesties, and grand banquets. It is a symbol of the Tang Dynasty and is renowned as the “First Gate of the Prosperous Tang.”
Following the initiation of the Daming Palace National Heritage Park project in 2008, the Danfeng Gate Site Museum began construction. The museum is a three-story frame structure, with its exterior walls painted in a light brown-yellow color. This design aims to reflect both the form, scale, architectural characteristics, and majestic style of the Tang Dynasty palace gate while distinguishing it from other ancient-style buildings. The color scheme uses a unified, abstract approach to give the museum a sculptural and modern feel. The interior space is dedicated to the preservation and display of the Danfeng Gate site, while the gate tower is used for various ceremonial activities.
Hanyuan Hall
Hanyuan Hall, expanded during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, was the most magnificent building in Tang Chang’an and the first hall along the central axis of the Daming Palace from the south. It was the foremost of the three main halls in the imperial palace’s front court and was used for over two hundred years. Hanyuan Hall was the venue for state ceremonies and grand events, comparable in significance to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City of Beijing. Its grandeur is reflected in the expressions, “All officials gaze at Chang’an, and all nations bow to Hanyuan” and “The gates of the nine heavens open to the palace, and all nations don their robes to honor the crown,” which depict the splendor of the grand audience held in Hanyuan Hall.
The hall measures 75.9 meters in length from east to west and 42.3 meters in width from north to south, standing on a rammed earth base that is over 3 meters high, offering a commanding view over Chang’an. Hanyuan Hall was the main hall of the Daming Palace. Flanking the hall to the east and west are the Xiangluan and Xifeng Pavilions, along with the Longwei Path leading to the plain. To the sides of the hall are the Bell and Drum Towers. The hall, pavilions, and towers are interconnected by flying corridors, forming a “凹” shape.
On either side of the hall’s base, there are remnants of corridors extending towards the Xiangluan Pavilion to the east and the Xifeng Pavilion to the west. The entire structure exudes grandeur and brilliance, standing as an outstanding example of Tang architecture.
Taiye Pool
Located in the northern part of the Daming Palace, Taiye Pool, also known as Penglai Pool, is a serene expanse of royal waters. Covering over 240 acres, it is significantly larger than the 150-acre Xingqing Palace pool. Taiye Pool was a favored retreat for emperors and empresses of the Tang dynasty.
The pool is surrounded by nearly 400 covered walkways, stretching 800 to 1000 meters. On the southern bank, the remains of a large complex of corridors and courtyards can be found. These corridors likely served as connecting passages between the front court and the rear palace gardens, as well as between various halls within the rear palace. The courtyards were used for viewing, religious ceremonies, and other activities. The beautiful scenery of Taiye Pool, described as “Spring pool warmed by the sun with little wind and waves, boats drifting among the flowers and singing on the water,” is vividly presented to visitors.
With the aid of high-tech sound, light, and visual effects, the Daming Palace seems bathed in a misty moonlight, with lotus flowers floating above and fairy-like figures treading on clouds, creating a mystical atmosphere. The blue lighting reflects off the rippling waters, making Taiye Pool appear to float in the night sky, full of dreams and magic.
Underground Ruins Museum
Located beneath the central landscape area of the park, the Underground Ruins Museum transcends traditional exhibition methods by incorporating immersive historical performances to interpret history in a modern way.
Visitors to the underground museum should not miss the performances of “Officials in Court” and the Tang Dynasty costume showcase “Sun and Moon in Daming Palace.” Among these, “Sun and Moon in Daming Palace” is a captivating blend of modern and classical elements, featuring Tang Dynasty costumes. The performance uses costumes, music, stage design, and lighting to recreate the grandeur and splendor of the Tang Dynasty. It vividly depicts the daily life of the Tang Dynasty empress Wu Zetian through a contemporary fashion T-stage show.
Lin De Hall
Lin De Hall is situated on the elevated ground west of Taiye Pool and served as the state banquet hall of Daming Palace. It is named after the period of Tang Gaozong’s reign, the Lin De era (664-665).
The hall consists of four interconnected pavilions (including two multi-storied ones), covering an area of over 5,000 square meters, making it the largest hall in China. The main structure is flanked by square and rectangular high platforms, each with smaller buildings on top. These platforms are linked to the upper levels of the main hall by arched flying bridges. Lin De Hall is renowned for being the most complex large architectural group of Tang Dynasty buildings that has been discovered to date.
Xuan Zheng Hall
Located approximately 300 meters north of Han Yuan Hall, Xuan Zheng Hall was the place where the emperor held court and made decisions, known as the “Central Court.” The foundation of the hall measures 70 meters in length from east to west and over 40 meters in width from north to south.
In front of the hall, on either side, were the Central Secretariat, the Department of State Affairs, as well as the Hongwen Pavilion, the Historical Office, and the Censorate. About 130 meters in front of the hall, there were three gates arranged in a row, known as Xuan Zheng Gate, flanked by palace walls that created a large courtyard between the walls and the hall.
Historical records indicate that during grand banquets held at Lin De Hall, up to 3,000 people could be seated both in front of and beneath the colonnades of the hall. Performances of various plays were conducted, and polo games were held in front of the hall. Experts infer that the area in front of the hall was likely an open square, reflecting the grandeur and splendor of the Tang Dynasty.
Zi Chen Hall
Zi Chen Hall is located 95 meters north of Xuan Zheng Hall and was known as the “Inner Court,” where officials met with the emperor, a process called “entering the court.” Behind Xuan Zheng Hall is Zi Chen Gate, which leads to Zi Chen Hall, the main hall of the sleeping quarters. To the east of Zi Chen Hall are the Bathing Hall and the Warm House Hall, while to the west are Yan Ying Hall and Han Xiang Hall, arranged in parallel, serving as the emperor’s daily activity spaces. To the north of Zi Chen Hall is a cross street, beyond which is the residential area for the empresses and concubines. Zi Chen Hall is the third major hall of the Tang Dynasty’s Daming Palace and served as the main hall for the emperor’s daily affairs, often being referred to as the “Emperor’s Convenience Hall.”
What to Do at Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Film Screening
The Daming Palace National Heritage Park features the first IMAX 3D giant screen cinema in the northwest region, providing visitors with a stunning audio-visual experience. The cinema screens The Legend of Daming Palace, an international perspective film that tells a legendary story inspired by a large ancient mural. To complement the IMAX 3D format, the film includes several visually striking scenes such as grand palace dances, royal polo matches, noble hunting grounds, and martial arts duels. These scenes offer audiences an extraordinary and thrilling visual experience.
Festivals: Kite Festival and Peony Festival
Each spring, Daming Palace National Heritage Park hosts its Qingming Season activities, which include the Kite Festival and the Peony Festival. During this period, visitors can enjoy the pleasure of flying kites, experience the unique charm of the grand ruins surrounded by green grass and trees, and ride the CCSC public bicycles to tour the Daming Palace Peony Garden, where thousands of peonies bloom in a beautiful spring landscape.
Opera Culture Festival
Opera is a treasured part of China’s traditional culture, with Qin Opera being considered the ancestor of Chinese opera. During the May Day holiday, Daming Palace National Heritage Park hosts an Opera Culture Festival, inviting folk enthusiasts to participate and featuring renowned opera artists who perform classic opera segments for the audience.
Winter Solstice Ceremony
The “Winter Solstice Ceremony” is a modern reenactment of ancient Chinese winter solstice celebrations. Held at Daming Palace National Heritage Park, this ceremony expresses wishes for a bountiful harvest and revives the grandeur of Tang Dynasty royal rituals. Visitors can attend to witness this historical reenactment.