Henan Travel Notes: Luoyang Tiantang and Mingtang Ruins National Park
At 10:15 AM on September 23, 2022, after visiting the Yingtian Gate Scenic Area, we exited through the back gate, crossed an open square, and arrived at the Tiantang and Mingtang Scenic Area. The ticket price was 120 yuan, quite expensive, but free for those over 60. We entered at 10:30.
The Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Heritage Park is built on the core area of the ruins of the Sui and Tang dynasties' Luoyang imperial palace, the Ziwei City. Its main features include the architectural ruins of the Tang Dynasty's Mingtang, Tiantang, and Nine-Dragon Pool.
Sui-Tang Luoyang City was the capital site of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and at that time it was the most prosperous international metropolis in the world. Emperor Gaozong of Tang described it as 'the center of the universe, where all nations pay homage.' It was the political, economic, and cultural center of the world. It continued to be used through the Five Dynasties and Northern Song, for a total of over 530 years, making it the longest-used capital in ancient China.
In the first year of the Daye era of Emperor Yang of Sui (605 AD), the capital was moved to Luoyang, officially called Dongjing (Eastern Capital). In 609, it was renamed Dongdu (Eastern Capital). In the second year of the Xianqing era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (657 AD), the 'Edict to Establish the Eastern Capital' was issued, designating it as the Eastern Capital, co-capital with Chang'an. In the first year of the Guangzhai era (684 AD), it was renamed Shendu (Divine Capital). In 690, Wu Zetian changed the Tang dynasty to Zhou and made Shendu the capital. In the first year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (742 AD), it was renamed Dongjing.
Sui-Tang Luoyang City was divided into the palace city (Ziwei City), imperial city, outer city, Shangyang Palace, etc., covering an area of about 51.9 square kilometers, with 3 markets and 109 wards. Designed according to the concept of harmony between heaven and man, with the imperial palace Ziwei City as the core, symbolizing the Ziwei Palace, the residence of the Heavenly Emperor, it occupied an area of 4.2 square kilometers. It was known as the palace of all palaces, establishing the basic layout of Chinese palace cities, serving as a model for palace architecture after the Sui and Tang dynasties, and was imitated by the imperial palaces of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
Sui-Tang Luoyang City holds an important position in the history of world civilization. Its layout and architectural forms not only had a profound impact on later Chinese dynasties but also significantly influenced East Asian countries. The planning and design of the Bohai Kingdom's Longquan Shangjing, Zhongjing, and Dongjing, as well as Japan's Heijokyo (Nara) and Heiankyo (Kyoto), five capitals in total, were clearly influenced by Sui-Tang Luoyang City.
The Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Heritage Park is located in the Old Town of Luoyang City, Henan Province. It is a national demonstration project and key project for the protection of large-scale heritage sites.
In 2005, the Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Heritage Park was listed as one of the key protected large heritage sites during the national '11th Five-Year Plan' period. It is Luoyang's 'Number One Project' for building itself into an international cultural tourism city, with the Mingtang being the first highlight of that project. The park is the core area of the Ziwei City ruins, most famous for the Mingtang and Tiantang from the Wu Zetian period, also known as the Hall of Myriad Deities and the Tongtian Futu respectively. The park mainly features the ruins of important Tang Dynasty buildings such as Mingtang, Tiantang, and Nine-Dragon Pool, with a focus on protecting and displaying the iconic buildings of Mingtang and Tiantang built during Wu Zetian's reign. Mingtang is located on the central axis of Sui-Tang Luoyang City, serving as the main hall of the palace city (Ziwei City), and was the important venue where Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian ruled the empire, communicated with heaven and earth, and responded to the four seasons.
The Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Archaeological Heritage Park is located in the city center to the north of Zhongzhou Road and east of Dingding Road. It is the core area of the palace city of Luoyang during the Sui, Tang, and Northern Song dynasties. The park covers an area of 10.59 hectares, mainly displaying the Mingtang and Tiantang of the Tang Dynasty during Wu Zetian's period, the ruins of the Northern Song Taiji Hall, and the corridor and hall ruins of the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties. This site has been included by the National Cultural Heritage Administration in the '11th Five-Year Plan' large heritage site protection plan and the key project for the Silk Road World Heritage nomination.
In June 2010, the Mingtang ruins protection and exhibition project began construction. It officially opened to the public on February 16, 2022. The main structure of the Mingtang protection building is an octagonal shape with three exterior levels and two interior levels featuring a pyramidal roof, with a total height of 33.52 meters and a total floor area of 9,847.7 square meters.
Within the national heritage park, Tiantang and Mingtang are ticketed separately, while the Nine-Dragon Pool is an independent scenic spot that is not yet open to the public.
Upon entering the scenic area, we are faced with the magnificent Mingtang building. Although it is a reconstructed hall, it is still resplendent and magnificent. The high-tech exhibition area of the Mingtang ruins allows us to experience a journey back in time to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty and feel the awe of the Hall of Myriad Deities. In the curved-screen cinema on the first floor, through a long scroll folding screen, we can see stories about the Mingtang, including human activities, rituals, temple fairs, celebrations, etc. Through the Mingtang, we learn about the culture and customs of the Tang Dynasty.
The Tiantang ruins are located 155 meters northwest of the Mingtang ruins, on the west side of the axis area of the Wu Zhou Ziwei City. It is a building foundation with a square platform and five concentric circular load-bearing bases, a very unique form. It was built by order of Wu Zetian as a Buddhist hall to store Buddha statues.
The 'New Tiantang' has five exterior levels and nine interior levels. The building itself is nearly 60 meters high, and with the two-tiered platform base and the jeweled spire, the total height is about 80 meters. Specifically, while the exterior retains the ancient architectural style, the interior uses modern construction. Inside the two-tiered platform is the physical exhibition hall of the Tiantang ruins. The indoor floor is made of glass floors or wooden boardwalks. As visitors walk on the boardwalks, they can have a panoramic view of the actual remains of Tiantang and its surrounding features such as the water drainage, channels, column bases, and rammed earth foundations of the surrounding corridors and rooms. The main building is divided into multiple exhibition halls by floor, which will feature historical introductions about Sui-Tang Luoyang City and the palace city area, archaeological excavation findings, and restoration research results.
The reconstructed Tiantang and Mingtang indeed cost a great deal, showing how much the local government values this cultural project and tourist attraction. Not only does it inspire awe, but also admiration.
At 1 PM, we finished our visit, exited through the north gate of the scenic area, and walked back to the hotel. We had a bowl of qiangguo noodles (stir-fried noodles with hot oil and spices) at a restaurant across the street. It tasted good. After lunch, we returned to our room to rest.
