A relaxing discovery of Henan

Attraction 7

Han-Wei Ancient Luoyang City National Archaeological Site Park, Luoyang

Luoyang city was the most sustained capital in ancient China and was also the largest. The Han-Wei ancient site remains in good condition.

Located 15 kilometers to the east of modern Luoyang in Central China's Henan province, the history of the Han-Wei ancient Luoyang city can be traced to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC). In the year 25, upon ascending the throne, Emperor Guangwu (r. 25-47) designated it the capital of his empire -- the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). The city continued to serve as capital through three dynasties to follow, namely the Kingdom of Wei (220-265), the Western Jin (265-316), and the Northern Wei (386-534), spanning some 500 years before it gradually fell into ruins in war.

The site is named after the major historical period to which it dates, although archaeological sites of earlier dynasties have been discovered in its vicinity.
Except for the southern wall of the inner city submerged by the Luohe River, the three remaining walls are around 3,700 to 4,290 meters long, and were all made by rammed earth boards. Palace walls, palace halls, governmental offices and imperial gardens were built in the city. Occupying an area of more than 900,000 square meters, the imperial city of the Northern Wei was centered at the Taiji Hall.