Daming Palace National Heritage Park
大明宫国家遗址公园
Tang emperors' palace grounds, a vast open site
- Hours
- Roughly 08:30-18:00, to 19:00 in some seasons
- Tickets
- About ¥60, students half price
- Address
- Around Taihua North Road; the Hanyuan Hall ruins sit on the park's central axis
Tang emperors ruled from here for over two centuries. Today there is more empty ground than building, and standing on the Hanyuan Hall platform you can see in every direction. Only earth terraces and column bases remain, yet walking across them tells you how large the palace was. Apartment blocks form the horizon. Come near sunset, when the dirt turns orange and the crowds thin.