王子奇The Present State of the Daming Palace National Heritage ParkWang Ziqi
Ph. D. Student, School of Archaeology and Museology,
Peking University, China

1. Brief Introduction to the Daming Palace“Yong’an Palace”. The next year, its name was changed to be
Daming Palace. In the 2nd year of the Longshuo reign (A.D.

City of Chang’an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 681-662), Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) continued the construc-907), was one of the centers in the world. It is also a mile-tions of the palace. Finishing with the constructions of Xu-stone in the history of the development of Chinese cities.

anzheng Hall and Hanyuan Hall, the palace was completed

Daming Palace, one of the most important imperial palaces

basically. After these constructions, the layout of the palacein Chang’an City, had witnessed the ups and downs in thewas established too. And this time Li Zhi gave the palace

empire and the world for centuries.

a new name -- “Penglai Palace”. Eight years later, it was re-The Site of the Daming Palace is located on the Longshou

named as “Hanyuan Palace”. Till the first year of Chang’anPlateau in the north suburb of Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province.

reign (A.D. 701), it returned to the name of Daming Palace.

Being a part of the Chang’an imperial city of the Tang Dy-From the beginning of construction to the ruin, Damingnasty (A.D. 618-907), the Daming Palace, was built in thePalace went through 269 years. During 240 years among

8th year of the Zhenguan reign (A.D. 634), first named asthese, it was the center of Tang Dynasty Government. AFigure 1 the Ancient City Sites in the District of Xi’an City62

The Present State of the Daming Palace National Heritage Park

outer court and inner court as the tradition of Chinese imperial palaces. And the layers of halls and pavilions spreadout on the central axis.
The Daming Palace was damaged in wars and got burnt
down in A.D. 904 of the Emperor Zhaozong’s reign. Now, inthe site of the Daming Palace, over 40 sites of halls and pavilions were unearthed, mainly built around the Taiye Poolin the north zone of the palace. These sites included Hanyuan Hall, Linde Hall, Sanqing Hall, Qingsi Hall, Xuanzheng
Hall and Zichen Hall. Now, those sites are the preciousmaterial of studying and researching Tang Dynasty, taking aunique place of Chinese history.
After the Qing Dynasty, the area of Daming Palace site
was still a wilderness. In the former period of the WorldWar II, lots of refugees from Henan Province rushed into
Xi’an City, and settled down on the north side of the LongFigure 2 Plan of Daming Palace Site

hai Railway, which across the northern area of Xi’an City.
In the 1930s, with the construction of the Longhai Railway

large amount of political events happened in this palace,near Daming Palace site, many platelayers moved into thisconcerning the fortune of Tang Dynasty. Seventeen emper-zone too. After that, there were plenty temporary buildings,

ors of Tang Dynasty lived here and handled the daily affairs

making the confusing layout here. Several decades passedof the empire. It was also the largest and most elegant impe-by, the area of Daming Palace sites is still a zone of chaos,rial palace at that time in China. The palace consisted of thewith narrow streets, shabby houses and poor public security

Figure 3 the Condition of Daming Palace site before the Conservation Projects and Construction of National Heritage Park63

王子奇Table 1 the Explorations and Excavations of Daming PalaceTime
1957.10The Explorations and Excavations
1959.5

Fall of 1959

1960

1981
Fall of 1982
Fall of 1983 1984
1987.4 1987.5
1995.3 1996.12
2001.82005.92006.32005.6
2006.1
2006.7

Started the archaeological explorations and excavations of Daming Palace,
figured out the basic situation of the site. Excavated some key sites as
Hanguang Hall, Linde Hall, Xuanwu Gate, Chongxuan Gate, Neichong Gate,Yinhan Gate etc.
Finished a full-scale exploration of the northern area of the site, proved up thelayout of the sites of the halls and other buildings on the whole. Excavated thesites of the complex around Hanyuan Hall, the main hall in the DamingPalace.
Excavated Qingsi Hall in the eastern part of the palace, and Sanqing Hall inthe northwestern.
Excavated East Chaotang Hall site in the south of Hanyuan Hall.
Excavated the southern part of Hanlinyuan Site.
Excavated the Hanyao Gate in the east of the Daming Palace.
Finished an all-round excavation of the complex of Hanyuan Hall and theannexes, for assisting the conservation project of Hanyuan Hall .
Series excavations of the Taiye Pool.
Excavated the Danfeng Gate.
For assisting the conservation project of the Hanyuan Hall ’ s front stem,
finished archaeological exploration between the Danfeng Gate and theHanyuan Hall.

Figure 4 Aerial Photograph of Daming Palace Site

64

The Present State of the Daming Palace National Heritage Park

brought into the planning for the first time. It planned toorder.
In order to figure out the basic situation of the Damingbuild a park green space, around the site of Hanyuan Hall.

Palace site, the Chinese archaeologists started a series of ex-In 1980, Xi’an City drew up the second urban overall

cavations on the sites from 1950s (Table 1). After more thanplanning(1980 ～ 2000). The planning put forward a pro-

50 years’ work, now the archaeologists have already known

posal to protect the famous historical and cultural city first.

the location, scope, layout and attribute of the sites well.

In this planning, it defined the protection scope of Daming
Palace site, which was bigger than the area of park green

2. the Development of the Planning of thespace in the first urban overall planning, and brought forward to build a heritage park in the scope and to afforest

Daming Palacein the park. This was the first time that the government ofBeing an important ancient site in Xi’an City, the govern-Xi’an City considered the historical and cultural sites andment of Xi’an city always considers Daming Palace site as abuildings in the city as a whole, and planned to build a heri-significant part in the urban overall planning. As the idea

tage park for the Daming Palace site.

of preservation of cultural relics develops, the several urban
overall plannings also make corresponding changes.

In 1995, Xi’an City drew up the third urban overall planning(1995 ～ 2010). The planning put forward a proposal

In 1953, Xi’an City drew up the first urban overall plan-to protect the significant and large scaled sites, the preciousning(1953 ～ 1972), and the area of Daming Palace site wascultural relics, and the ancient architectures in Xi’an, inFigure 5 the first urban overall planning of Xi’an City

Figure 6 the forth urban overall planning of Xi’an City65

王子奇order to develop the historical cultural customs and to pre-Compendium for Cultural Development in the Eleventh Five-serve the traditional city pattern and flavor. For the Daming

Year-Plan. In this file, “to build the preservation and exhibi-Palace site, 1) protect and reconstruct the original structure,tion park of Han Chang’an City, Daming Palace and other2) protect the Daming Palace site on the whole, 3) com-

important large scaled sites” was clearly proposed. In ad-bine the conservation and the utilization of the site. It also

dition, in the Overall Preservation Planning of Large Scaled

planned to build a Daming Palace Museum, starting fromSites in the Eleventh Five-Year-Plan passed by Chinese State

conservation project of Hanyuan Hall, laying out the front

Administration of Cultural Heritage, the exhibition projectstem before the Hanyuan Hall, and renewing the Taiye Pool.

of Daming Palace site was enlisted as one of the key proj-In 2004, Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heri-ects, too. These two plannings provided a policy and law

tage replied and passed the Preservation Planning of Dam-

support for the further conservation projects and heritageing Palace Site. On 16 Jul. 2005, the government of Shaanxi

park constructions of Daming Palace site.

Province passed and proclaimed the Preservation Overall

Under the guidance of the plannings mentioned above,

Planning of Daming Palace Site. This was the special plan-some conservation practices of the Daming Palace site havening for the Daming Palace site. The passing of the two

been put into effect. In the last few years, the Daming Palaceplannings as well marked a new age of putting the conserva-

national heritage park was being constructed as well. In thistion into practice, for Daming Palace site.

process, the idea of preservation also changed on different

In 2008, Xi’an City drew up the forth urban overall planning(1995 ～ 2010). The planning put forward a proposal toaspects, hence the conservation practices also changed withit.

protect the city pattern on the whole and protect the capitalcities sites, the tombs of the emperors, the palaces and gardens and other historical cultural relics in dynasties. And it
as well propose to protect the “Authenticity, sustainability,and readability” of the Daming Palace site.
Besides, in 2006, Chinese State Council proclaimed the3. the Conservation Practices of the Daming
Palace Site
To protect the Daming Palace site, the conservation practices began since 1980s. In 1984, the Chinese State Admin-

Figure 7 the Hanyuan Hall Site before and after the Conservation Project66

The Present State of the Daming Palace National Heritage Park

istration of Cultural Heritage decided to start the conserva-

practices and constructions.

tion project of Linde Hall. This was the first conservation

In 2003, according to the Preservation Planning of Dam-project on the Daming Palace site. The next year, the part ofing Palace Site passed by the Chinese State Administration

the front hall accomplished. In 2005, the Chinese State Ad-of Cultural Heritage, the conservation project of Dafu Hall

ministration of Cultural Heritage passed and appropriatedSite and Chongxuan Gate Site, Wangxian Pavilion Site wasfunds for the second phase of the conservation project. By

started. Then in 2005 Government of Xi’an City decided tothe end of 2006, the project completed.

start the project of environment renovation and buildings

In the early 1990s, under the negotiation of UNESCO,

remove in the area of Hanyuan Hall’s front stem. In thisJapanese Government and Chinese Government, they

project, an area of 3,500,000 square meters, 89 enterprises

agreed used the fund supplied by Japanese World Heritage

or institutions, and 25,000 families, 100,000 people were in-Trust Grant and Government of Xi’an City, to protect thevolved. Lots of residents finally got rid of the shabby houses

Site of Hanyuan Hall together. From 1995 to 1996, the In-and horrible living condition. The district of Daming Palace

stitute of Archaeology CASS (Chinese Academy of Social

Site was improved for the future construction of nationalSciences) excavated the Site roundly. Based on the archaeo-

heritage park too.

logical work, the conservation project started in May 1998,
and completed after the five-year work in Mar. 2003.
In Nov. 2002, the Japanese Government and Chinese
Government signed an agreement to protect the environ-4. the Construction of the Daming Palace Heritage Park

ment of Hanyuan Hall on Daming Palace Site, with the fundIn 2007, a heavy rain struck Xi’an City. In the area of Dam-

supplied gratis by Japanese Government. In this project, aning Palace site, rough roads became many residents’ worry.

exhibition hall of 1005 square meters, a preservation hall ofAlthough many conservation projects like that of Hanyuan

374 square meters for the brick kiln were built, and the en-

Hall and Linde Hall had been done, the whole area of Dam-vironment protection were completed.

ing Palace site was still in the chaos, about both the living

All the projects mentioned above, are very good samples

condition for the residents and the preservation condition

for the conservation projects to a large scaled site. Theyfor the site. But the construction of the Daming Palace heri-also supplied a good condition for the further conservation

tage park changed that later.

Figure 8 the Reconstructed Danfeng Gate67

王子奇Figure 9 the Underground Museum

Figure 10

the Effect Illustrator of the Daming Palace National

Heritage ParkOn Jan. 24, 2008, for the constructions of the national

In this center, a 3D IMAX cinema was also included too.

heritage park of Daming Palace Site, the international con-And a set of micro model of the Daming Palace was finishedcept design evaluation conference was held in Xi’an. Theand put on the east side of the unearthed museum. Shortly

conference also delivered the sound of the opening of theafterwards, Daming Palace national heritage park was sur-national heritage park’s construction. On Mar. 29, 2008,

rounded by palace gates and walls, the whole project hasconstruction of Danfeng Gate site protection exhibition

begun to take shape1.

project was launched, marking construction work of Daming Palace National Heritage Park in full swing.

In the process of constructing, the Daming Palace heritage park was managed by an enterprise-style institution.

On Aug. 3, 2008, the Chinese State Administration ofAnd the institution also claimed that they will build ten

Cultural Heritage passed the Overall Planning of Preserva-view spots, like Tang Dynasty famous flowers garden, Tangtion and Exhibition of Daming Palace National Heritage

Dynasty folk custom garden, and so on.

Park. Two months later, on Oct. 21, 2008, the opening cer-On Oct. 1, 2010, the Nation Heritage Park opened to theemony of the construction beginning of Daming Palace Na-public, finally. Now, the area from the Danfeng Gate to thetional Heritage Park was warmly held before the Hanyuan

Hayuan Hall is free for all the tourists and residents, as well

Hall site.

as it charges Rmb 60 Yuan for entering the other area. AlongOn Jan. 20, 2010, the principal part of Danfeng Gate sitewith the opening of the park, the district of Daming Palace

protection exhibition project was completed, creating a new

becomes one of the hottest commercial centers in Xi’anlandmark in Xi’an City. Before long, the preservation andCity. The prices of the real estates around the park increased

exhibition project of Xuanzheng Hall and Zichen Hall sites

sharply since the construction of the heritage park likewise.

were completed. The two sites were exhibited in the form

Undoubtedly, the accomplishment of the Daming Pal-of “Tree House”, which is a new attempt of displaying theace heritage park, improved the conservation condition ofearthen sites. Then, an underground museum showing thethe site. At the same time it is also a very good attempt ofhistory and relics of Daming Palace and Tang Dynasty wasshowing the archaeological sites and spreading the history

built between the Hanyuan Hall site and Xuanzheng Hallknowledge to the public. But, there are also some othersite. Meanwhile, an archaeological exploration center wasvoices, about the construction of the heritage park.

built on the west side of the front stem of the Ganyuan Hall“In 1930s and 1970s, Xi’an City did two surveys of land-site, using an old factory in this area before. On the east sideform features, the contour map showed that, the landformof the front stem, a tourist reception center was completed.

of Daming Palace site was not changed too much in the1

The readers interested in more news about the current state of Daming Palace Heritage Park, please go to: http://map.dmgpark.com/.

There are an E-map of the heritage park and more detailed introductions of the sites on the website.

68The Present State of the Daming Palace National Heritage Park

past more than one thousand years. ...... Strictly speaking,the archaeological work of Daming Palace site, except theHanyuan Hall and a few other sites, is not finished yet. But
now the sites were covered by cement and concrete harshly.
Even more, an underground museum was built by the TaiyePool. All these are huge damages to the heritage. How can
we continue the archaeological work in the future? It isa question without answering.” Xu Pingfang (the former
president of Institute of Archaeology, CASS) said.
Xie Chensheng (a famous archaeologist) said, “Buildinga heritage park is an effective way of protecting the large
scaled sites, and I always support such way. I think, thebuildings remove project in the area of Daming Palace site
by the local government is very good, but the most important principle of cultural industry is the social effectiveness.
I am strongly against the enterprise-style management of
the cultural heritage for financial gain, against take heritage
as a ready source of money, against the ten view spots inDaming Palace. This sort of conducts was damage to theheritage park.”Now, the constructions of heritage parks like the one ofDaming Palace are very popular in China. But how can webalance the conservation of the sites and relics and the benefits in the process? How can we really protect the “authenticity, sustainability, and readability” of the heritages? It is
still a question to be answered in the future.

Reference
1.

Conservation and Reconstruction Affairs Office ofXi’an Daming Palace Site, Daming Palace national
heritage park – planning volume, 2009, Beijing:
People’s Publish House.

2.

Cultural Heritage Protection and Research Center,
Institute of Archaeology CASS, Study report of Chinese large scaled sites I, 2011, Beijing: Science Press.

3.

Institute of Archaeology CASS, Leading Groupof Xi’an Daming Palace Site’s Conservation andReconstruction Affairs, Archaeological excavations
and researches on the site of the Tang Daming Palace, 2007, Beijing: Cultural Relics Press.

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