The poem “Ascending Guanyin Terrace and Gazing at the City” by Bai Juyi describes Chang’an’s well-planned layout: “Thousands of homes like a game of chess, twelve streets like vegetable plots. From afar, I discern the faint morning smoke, a constellation of stars marking the Five Gates to the West.” This illustrates the organized and well-planned nature of Chang’an, with its neat city blocks, clearly delineated areas for the imperial palace, government offices, and residential zones.
During the Tang Dynasty, the West Market covered over 1,600 acres with a building area of one million square meters. It hosted over 220 trades and more than 40,000 permanent shops, earning it the title of “Golden Market.” It was the largest commercial center in the world at that time. Many historical anecdotes and literary works are associated with this bustling market, such as Li Bai’s “Youth” and Du Fu’s verse “Li Bai, with his wine, composed a hundred poems; In Chang’an, the wine houses were his resting place,” both referencing or related to the West Market.
The Tang West Market Cultural Scenic Area is a comprehensive commercial and tourism project built on the site of the Tang Dynasty Chang’an West Market. It is currently the only large-scale commercial and tourism theme area in China reconstructed on its original site. Located to the southwest of Xi’an’s ancient city wall, adjacent to the Tang Chang’an City West Market ruins, this project offers a glimpse into the vibrant and bustling scenes of the Tang Dynasty’s golden age.
Travel Information about Tang West Market Area
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets: Special exhibitions ¥60; Tombstone Collection ¥150 (requires advance reservation with the ticket office); other attractions are free of charge.
Opening Hours: Tang West Market Museum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in winter and 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM in summer. Yutian Society is open from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM and from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Access to the Scenic Area
Location: 1 Labor South Road, Beilin District, Xi’an.
Public Transport: Take bus routes 206, 608, 201, 4, etc., and alight at Tang West Market Station.
Attraction Rating
- Cultural Value: ★★★★☆
- Features: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★★
- Scenic Beauty: ★★★
- Romantic: ★★
- Excitement: ★
Highlights of Tang West Market Area
Tang West Market Cultural Scenic Area
The poem “Ascending Guanyin Terrace and Gazing at the City” by Bai Juyi describes Chang’an’s well-planned layout: “Thousands of homes like a game of chess, twelve streets like vegetable plots. From afar, I discern the faint morning smoke, a constellation of stars marking the Five Gates to the West.” This illustrates the organized and well-planned nature of Chang’an, with its neat city blocks, clearly delineated areas for the imperial palace, government offices, and residential zones.
During the Tang Dynasty, the West Market covered over 1,600 acres with a building area of one million square meters. It hosted over 220 trades and more than 40,000 permanent shops, earning it the title of “Golden Market.” It was the largest commercial center in the world at that time. Many historical anecdotes and literary works are associated with this bustling market, such as Li Bai’s “Youth” and Du Fu’s verse “Li Bai, with his wine, composed a hundred poems; In Chang’an, the wine houses were his resting place,” both referencing or related to the West Market.
The Tang West Market Cultural Scenic Area is a comprehensive commercial and tourism project built on the site of the Tang Dynasty Chang’an West Market. It is currently the only large-scale commercial and tourism theme area in China reconstructed on its original site. Located to the southwest of Xi’an’s ancient city wall, adjacent to the Tang Chang’an City West Market ruins, this project offers a glimpse into the vibrant and bustling scenes of the Tang Dynasty’s golden age.
Tang West Market Museum
The Tang West Market Museum is built on the site of the Tang Chang’an City West Market ruins. It houses a vast collection of artifacts, primarily featuring items unearthed from the West Market site and other carefully preserved relics spanning from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, covering over three thousand years of history. The museum displays exquisite and mysterious bronze vessels, colorful ceramics, diverse clay figurines, dazzling gold and silverware, exceptional silk, and intricately crafted jade artifacts. It also features a large collection of currency, epitaphs, religious artifacts, and architectural relics.
The core exhibition, “The Flourishing Spirit of the Silk Road,” showcases the ruins of the northeast “Cross Street” of the Tang Dynasty West Market, wheel tracks, and some unearthed artifacts. Standing on the transparent glass floor above the ruins, visitors can look down at the foundations, roads, and ditches of the Tang West Market from over a thousand years ago, evoking a profound sense of history. Recognized as the starting point of the Silk Road, the site is included in the joint application by Silk Road countries for World Cultural Heritage status.
Tang West Market International Antiques City
Tang West Market International Antiques City is the largest, most upscale, and best-equipped antiques and art trading center in China. It features a commercial layout with underground levels and two to three above-ground floors, and in some areas, a fourth floor. The design is based on traditional Tang-style architecture.
The city is divided into two zones: Zone A and Zone B. Zone A focuses on the display, exchange, appraisal, and auction of antiques and collectibles. Zone B specializes in folk art, art galleries, and traditional crafts. The complex integrates a variety of facilities, including antique shops, appraisal centers, auction houses, pawnshops, antique exhibition halls, art galleries, flea markets, and ancillary stores. It has become a flagship and trendsetter in China’s antiques industry.
Jinshi Square
During the Tang Dynasty, Chang’an’s West Market was highly regarded by merchants traveling from distant lands along the Silk Road for its well-regulated management, fair trade practices, and comprehensive selection of goods, earning it the nickname “Golden Market.” Jinshi Square, located at the eastern entrance of the site, is Xi’an’s first public cultural square and tourist exchange center. It also serves as a prominent venue for performances showcasing Tang and Silk Road cultural themes.
The square hosts various festivals, large-scale performances, and folk art exhibitions from different countries, making it a modern leisure and community activity hub. Historically, the West Market of Tang Chang’an was a vibrant center for civic and folk culture. A notable example of its cultural richness is the Tang Dynasty Lantern Festival held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, during which a dispute over viewing the lanterns between Yang Guifei’s family and Princess Guangping led to a conflict among their servants, eventually requiring intervention from Emperor Xuanzong. This incident highlights the lively and significant folk culture of the West Market.
Silk Road Cultural District
The Silk Road Commercial and Tourism District leverages the ruins of the Sui and Tang Dynasties’ West Market, focusing on Silk Road culture, Tang Dynasty industries, and using traditional architecture as its main feature. This vibrant pedestrian street, rich in Silk Road cultural themes, showcases distinctive products, dining options, and performances from Silk Road regions.
The district features areas such as Japan Street, Shilla Square, Tianzhu Street, Persia Court, and Roman Plaza. These sections offer unique goods, specialty foods, and cultural performances from different Silk Road regions. Through its architecture, sculptures, landscapes, performances, dining, and trade, the district vividly presents the customs and traditions of various Silk Road locations, allowing visitors to experience authentic cityscapes from key points along the Silk Road.
Visitors to the Silk Road Cultural District can purchase local specialty products from various merchants and enjoy traditional performances such as Hu Xuan Dance and belly dancing. They can also sample unique regional cuisines and gain insights into the diverse history and culture of different areas along the Silk Road.
Visitor Guide for Tang West Market Area
Dining Options
The Tang West Market Cultural District features a wide array of both local and international snacks. You can find various flavors and cuisines, along with cafes and tea houses, making it extremely convenient for visitors to enjoy a diverse culinary experience.
Entertainment
The Xi’an Tang West Market Spring Festival Cultural Fair is one of the top three major temple fairs in China. It features tourism product booths representing various counties in Shaanxi, showcasing regional cultural characteristics and local specialties in a competitive format.
The Silk Road Cultural Street captures the essence of the Silk Road’s historical and cultural landscapes, offering a vibrant mix of unique products, dining options, performances, and architecture. Here, the grandeur and transformation of the prairie, desert, and maritime Silk Roads are vividly recreated.
Shopping
If you’re an antique collector, the International Antique Market is a must-visit for finding treasures. The area is rich in cultural atmosphere, with shops selling cultural goods at various attractions. Additionally, the West Market City Shopping Center offers a great venue for those who enjoy a shopping spree.