Live Your Best Lives
Emperors, generals, Tang poetry and Han prose, Chang'an of old was the economic and cultural center of the world, and an eternal coordinate in the hearts of the Chinese people.
With its skyscrapers and bustling streets, Xi'an is now an important central city in western China and an international metropolis with unique historical and cultural characteristics.
Even after thousands of years, the longing for Chang'an still lingers. The thriving new look of this ancient city is still worth visiting again and again.
The 3,000-year-old capital is a trending topic, especially during the Spring Festival. The most popular of these is the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps!
The media rushed to report on it, and it frequently appeared on hot searches. It even topped the list of the top 10 most played videos on a certain audio platform in 2019. Having written this, the editor can't help but give a thumbs up to Chang'an City's "top-tier" Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps!
The Lunar New Year is approaching, so it is imperative to come to Xi'an to see the prosperous Chang'an City, and the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps is a must-see destination.
The nine gates of Fengcheng were open overnight, and the emperor's daughters and concubines left the Han Palace. Thousands of chariots were adorned with precious lotus flowers and pearl foil, and tens of thousands of silver candles and green gauze cages were littered. Songs sang softly over the moonlit brothels, and fragrant mists wafted across the purple streets in the breeze. After the morning bell of Changle sounded, riders returned, leaving behind hairpins and earrings strewn across the streets. —"A Night Journey in Chang'an" "A Night Journey in Chang'an" depicts the night of the Lantern Festival in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty.
On this day, people can go shopping and watch lanterns all night long, and you can stroll around the main street outside the town. You can feel the infinite prosperity just from the text.
Xi'an has been plagued by occasional smog lately. The long-awaited first snow has brought a refreshing freshness to the city. Red lanterns hung along the roadsides and spring couplets painted by artisans in the streets and alleys have brought a lively atmosphere to the city, reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty thousands of years ago.
If the Terracotta Warriors and the Xi'an City Wall are the places to experience history, then the city's cultural heritage and atmosphere must be experienced at the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps. The integration of the "one street, two markets, and six wards" concept from the TV series "The Longest Day in Chang'an" into the landscape is what left the deepest impression on me about the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps.
As night falls, the splendor of the prosperous times and the various aspects of the city life are on full display here. The strong flavor of the New Year and the festive atmosphere make every tourist who comes here admire it.
There’s a saying in Xi’an: “See the Ming and Qing dynasties from the Bell and Drum Tower, and see the Tang Dynasty from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.” A tour of the Tang Dynasty City that Never Sleeps begins at the North Square at the foot of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
According to historical records, the Tang Dynasty Chang'an City accommodated a population of 1 million, equivalent to 20 ancient Roman cities at that time, and was a true international metropolis.
The central landscape belt between Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Kaiyuan Square is Suzaku Avenue, dividing Chang'an into east and west. This central belt is decorated with dazzling Tang Dynasty lanterns and other landscape installations, creating a lively and festive atmosphere and recreating the scene of a prosperous Tang Dynasty street.
"When the sun shines brightly on every door, people always replace the old charms with new ones." What comes to mind when you think of "door gods"? I'm sure many of you will recall the legend of "Qin Qiong Jingde Door God" told by the elderly when you returned to your hometown as a child.
The "Tang Door Gods" represent a rich tradition of traditional Chinese New Year. As gatekeepers, they are believed to be deities in folk belief. People place their images on their doors to protect their homes, ensure safety, aid success, and bring good fortune. During the Spring Festival, these "Door Gods," constructed from lanterns, stand within Chang'an City, safeguarding the safety and prosperity of its inhabitants.
Passing through the central landscape belt, the two most spectacular lanterns are the "Prosperity Sky Lantern" and the "Flowers Blooming in Chang'an." One, steeped in Tang culture, showcases the splendor of the dynasty; the other, adorned with peonies, symbolizes the beauty of the nation and the enduring prosperity.
As the night falls, wandering through the vibrant landscape feels like walking through history, listening to the night songs of the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. As the great writer Liu Yuxi wrote, "Only the peony is the true national beauty; its bloom moves the capital."
Dressed in a court lady's dress, holding a light round fan, half her face in Tang Dynasty makeup, her eyes full of movement. ———— This short line of words is particularly appropriate to describe the "tumbler girl" who has gone viral online.
Not long ago, a video of a netizen holding hands with the "Tumbler Girl" was posted on a certain audio platform and it was retweeted more than 3 million times. The "Tumbler Girl" has become the "top traffic" in Chang'an City!
More and more tourists come to the ancient city of Xi'an, either to see the young lady or on the way to see her. Countless people travel thousands of miles to the Tang Dynasty City that Never Sleeps just to catch a glimpse of Pikachen's true appearance and hold her hand.
As the old saying goes, "There is a beauty in the north, peerless and independent. One glance from her captivates the city, another from the country." The tumbler girl, as she is often called, has brought an entire city to life. This is more than just performance art. The most gratifying thing is that through this form of performance, more people from other places can understand the history of the Tang Dynasty and the cultural connotations of Xi'an.
During the Spring Festival, in addition to the beloved "Doll Sister", there will also be 12 groups of performance art performances including a warrior carved stone man, a goddess of the prosperous Tang Dynasty in a painting, a solemn and serious floating general, the romantic poet Li Bai, Qin Terracotta Warriors and Mouse Dolls, Cuju competitions, the military might of the Tang Dynasty, and chess games. Let's rub our hands and look forward to it!
You read that right! It’s the boy who has a level 10 ability to hold back laughter that’s been circulating on the Internet.
Performance time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Performance location: In the landscape pool in front of Pacific Studios
The goddess of the prosperous Tang Dynasty is dressed in a red dress, showing the grace and elegance of the Tang Dynasty concubine. Performance area: South side of the sculpture of Empress Wu
The most popular online in 2019, it was frequently praised by CCTV Dad! During the Spring Festival, the costumes and props of the tumbler girls and brothers were upgraded~
Performance area: west side of Kaiyuan Square
The suspended warrior is motionless in the air, with a solemn and serious expression. The majesty of the Tang Dynasty warriors is clearly visible.
Performance area: On the north side of the Fang Mou Du Duan sculpture group, the performance of "Return to Chang'an" tells the story of the great poet Bai Juyi traveling through ancient and modern times, intoxicated by the spring scenery of Qujiang and the fine wine of Chang'an. The performance tells the story of the people of Guanzhong guarding their homeland and praying for peace, and reproduces the reunion and beauty of going home for the New Year.
Performance time: 19:30-20:00
The bustling atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty is now preserved in the Great Tang West Market.
———— Going back a thousand years, the area around Big Wild Goose Pagoda had a close connection with the royal family.
At that time, Chang'an City had two commercial districts, the East Market and the West Market, respectively. The East Market served a domestic market, primarily catering to a small group of people, such as dignitaries and high-ranking officials, while the West Market, more accessible to the general public, was an international market that included a wide range of goods from the Western Regions, Japan, South Korea, and other places.
But do you know that the word "East and West" that we often talk about comes from the East and West Markets of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty.
During the Spring Festival, the Tang West Market will be more lively than usual, with merchants gathering, shops lining the streets, crowds of people watching lanterns and guessing riddles. All the fun experiences you can think of are available here!
In the West Market, there is Fuxingfang, a street of delicious food and fine wine, Chonghuafang, which focuses on Western Region performances, and Guangdefang, which focuses on praying and experiencing ancient costume dramas.
In the East Market, there are Shaanxi-style intangible cultural heritage and Tang Dynasty calligraphy and painting displays, as well as Anxingfang, which mainly performs Tang Dynasty music and dance.
It has to be said that every time you walk into each square, you are greeted by the vivid atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty! Paired with authentic local food, you can spend an evening dreaming of traveling back to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.
Are you moved after reading this?
In the past, people often associated Xi'an with ancient, rigid, and heavy adjectives. But now, Xi'an is definitely a new internet-famous check-in destination in China. Whether you're a travel expert or a newbie, visiting the Tang Dynasty City that Never Sleeps is sure to impress your friends.
Amid the bustling crowd, girls in elaborate makeup and ornate costumes are stunningly beautiful and ethereal. Boys in long gowns, clutching folding fans, are graceful and upright. It's said that the "Hanfu craze" has fueled the "Han and Tang Renaissance," and if there's one city where Hanfu is most popular, it has to be Xi'an.
Wandering in the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps is like traveling back to ancient times. You can encounter ancient style everywhere. Under the dim lights, every step you take is the most eye-catching scenery.
While we're used to talking about the ancient city of Xi'an, in recent years, more and more young and trendy elements have been influencing and transforming the city. During the Spring Festival, many local bands popular among young people will join the performances at the Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps.
Everyone's favorite band, "Listen to Nanmen," will also be performing. When the flashlights come on, their song "The Brightest Star in the Night Sky" is sure to spark a chorus. Also featured are the Inner Mongolia Wuyao Band, Houshan Band, Little Red Riding Hood Band, and others, performing live every night.
Performance time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
The colorful piano road has colors and music when you step on it. Just jumping on it will make you listen to a beautiful little song.
The children loved it, and the adults also came in droves. It seemed as if at this moment, everyone had become carefree children, enjoying the happiness and beauty with the company of music.
Tongshengxiang, Chunfasheng, Defachang... You wouldn't know it, but these renowned, time-honored Chinese brands are all gathered in the Tang Dynasty City! Each one has its own unique flavor, each with its own unique culinary experience, creating the authentic Xi'an you'll love.
Shaanxi has many delicious foods, but Tongshengxiang beef and mutton soup steamed bun, the only one selected as a national intangible cultural heritage, must have something special about it.
Tongshengxiang, founded in 1920, enjoys a high reputation among customers for its exquisite ingredients and delicious broth. Their steamed buns are characterized by their freshness, and they meticulously prepare the pancakes, broth, and steamed buns.
Friends from other places can try breaking the steamed buns by themselves. The smaller the buns, the better. This will allow the flavor of the broth to penetrate into the buns. The steamed buns broken by yourself are fragrant and will definitely be unforgettable.
There's an old saying in Xi'an: "When you think of Hulutou, your mouth waters." The rich broth paired with the authentic condiments makes a steaming bowl of Hulutou Pao Mo a delicious treat on a cold winter's day.
Eating Hulutou is a must-do in spring. A steaming pot of pig intestines, tripe, heart-shaped pork, and eggs and dried tofu—soft and fragrant. Add a steamed bun and a plate of bangbang pork—and you'll never know how delicious it is!
For Xi'an residents, the ultimate dumpling shop is Defachang. As a time-honored brand, Defachang was even listed in the Guinness World Records 10 years ago for its 318 varieties of dumplings.
It can be said that each dumpling has its own shape and each dumpling has its own flavor. I strongly recommend that friends from other places try the Dumpling Banquet, the benchmark of Defachang cuisine. Friends who have eaten it say that it is a living "work of art on the tip of the tongue."
Have you ever visited a city like this? The Tang Dynasty architecture is magnificent and gorgeous, the prosperous markets are bustling and cheerful, and the bright lights seem to be singing a long song of prosperity.
The drums that open the market on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the grand court meeting on New Year's Day, and the "Tangdu Shanglan Tiantian" (Lantern Festival) on the 15th day of the first lunar month are all captivating. I believe these are all reasons to come to Xi'an to celebrate the New Year and visit the Tang Dynasty City that Never Sleeps.
As the lights come on and neon lights glitter in the night sky, the grand scenes from "The Longest Day in Chang'an" seem to reappear before our eyes. I believe there is no other city more connected to time, more connected to history, and more dazzling than this.
