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In ancient times, the kings established their country in the center of the world, their palace in the center of the country, and their temple in the center of the palace.
Hello everyone, I am Youhun Xiaoliu, the promotion ambassador of cultural travel.
In June 2022, I joined China-TravelNote after a trip. I remember visiting the historical sites of Kaifeng and Hangzhou, handing a "Bianjing to Lin'an" itinerary to the China-TravelNote team leader, and reminiscing about my experiences. I think it was my passion for cultural travel that landed me the job.
Over the next three years, I never stopped studying the culture of ancient capitals. Even when my humanities work was interrupted during the pandemic, I never stopped delving into the humanities. Every time I read while traveling, a series of questions lingered in my mind. Why did some ancient capitals flourish only briefly, while others thrived for millennia? What was the purpose of ancient dynasties choosing these places as their capitals? What was the allure of these capitals?
In June 2025, after completing my tour of the ancient capital of Anyang, some answers gradually emerged. In this post, I want to show you what an ancient Chinese capital is.
However, it is a long story. According to statistics, there have been more than 200 capitals built by unified dynasties and local governments in the history of our country. It can be said that the history of ancient Chinese capitals is a condensed history of China.
So, let's start with the Ten Ancient Capitals. In 2016, the "China Ancient Capitals Research Summit Forum" was held in Chengdu, which led to the compilation of the Ten Ancient Capitals. These are Xi'an, Luoyang, Nanjing, Beijing, Kaifeng, Hangzhou, Anyang, Zhengzhou, Datong, and Chengdu, representing quintessential examples of my country's ancient capitals.
Even though time has turned the past prosperity into smoke and the palaces of the previous dynasties into ruins, we can always find the imprint of history and touch the pulse of civilization in a piece of oracle bone, an ancient tomb, or a site.
In September 2023, I arrived in Chang'an. I was filled with anticipation, as this is a city that exists only in words and imaginations. From prehistoric civilization to the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, countless histories of Chang'an have been replayed in books, films, and television.
But after arriving there, when we first met, the Tang Dynasty City that never sleeps, the bustling snack streets, and the flashing neon lights made me realize that what I loved was actually the Chang'an City that existed far away in history.
A careful exploration reveals the city's millennia-old charm, allowing the once-imagined scenes to crystallize bit by bit: the magnificent Terracotta Army, the Huaqing Hot Springs on Mount Li, the ancient and solemn Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, the tourists passing by in Hanfu (Chinese traditional costumes), the Bell and Drum Towers and the city walls, which watch over the daily sunrise and sunset...
Chang'an Youth China-Travel Note: Climbing the Guard Tower at Night to See Taibai Mountain (The Origin of Our Name!)
The spring breeze is blowing, and the horses are galloping. I can see all the flowers in Chang'an in one day.
Longing for you, in Chang'an
…
The sun of the Tang Dynasty has set, but the moon of Chang'an connects these poems with the past. They hang in people's hearts for thousands of years, and the music of the prosperous era echoes between mountains and rivers.
Only the peony is the true national beauty, and its bloom enchants the capital. In April 2023, I visited Luoyang to experience the history of the ancient capital and the breathtaking beauty of the peony.
Luoyang, the birthplace of Chinese civilization and the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, boasts 5,000 years of history, six World Cultural Heritage sites, and 4,000 years of city construction. It was the eastern starting point of the Silk Road and the center of the Grand Canal during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Luoyang was the seat of the Five Capitals of the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Han, Wei, Sui, and Tang dynasties. "To understand the rise and fall of history, look no further than Luoyang."
The day I arrived, the city was celebrating the Luoyang Peony Festival. Everyone in the city was eagerly anticipating the blossoms' bloom, as if their profusion were a revival of the Tang Dynasty's heyday. So I dreamed that when the peonies bloomed, the headless Buddha statues of the Longmen Grottoes were reborn, emerging from the Northern Wei dynasty into the Sui and Tang dynasties, traversing history, their smiles etched on the blossoms, becoming an indelible memory.
There are many museums in Luoyang. When you see those cultural relics standing in front of you with history and warmth spanning thousands of years, at that moment, you will feel that even though time is an invisible thing, it can still "survive" in its own way.
Even though the world has changed, the past has dissipated like the clouds on Mount Mang, but the divine capital Luoyang will be eternal and immortal.
In the golden autumn of 2024, I came to Nanjing. Since ancient times, Nanjing has been known for its "Jinling Royal Qi", which means that Nanjing will produce an emperor. In order to nip the problem in the bud, many dynasties in history would eliminate the royal aura in Nanjing.
But history is not subject to individual will. Since the Southern Dynasties, Nanjing has always shouldered the heavy responsibility of survival and continuation. Although many short-lived dynasties have existed here, it is also these dynasties that have continued to write Chinese history. It has been constantly destroyed, but like a phoenix, it has risen from the ashes at certain historical junctures to begin the next chapter of glory.
I went to see "Nanjing Photo Studio" over the weekend and was deeply moved. Our ancestors risked their lives to protect these 16 photos, which led to the creation of "Beijing No. 1 Exhibit" at the Nanjing War Criminal Tribunal after Japan's surrender. It stands as a bastion of historical truth and a sword that pierces lies. Nanjing, oh Nanjing, when you begin to rise from the ruins, it is the time for the Chinese nation to hold its head high.
Perhaps only Nanjing, a city that has experienced ups and downs, can cultivate such an inclusive and calm urban character. The atmosphere of the Six Dynasties has nourished generations of elegant and leisurely Nanjing people.
Strolling along the Qinhuai River at night, Nanjing's autumn is incredibly comfortable. I left a poem in Nanjing: Wandering the rivers and lakes, I remember my old capital, the royal aura of Jinling remains undimmed. A lifelong wish, leaving behind a sense of pride and freedom.
In the late Qing Dynasty, a palace wall separated the clamor of the crowd from the loneliness of the world. At that time, many people in the palace may have eagerly hoped to escape from the palace that trapped them, but at that time, it was destined to be just a luxury. They could only climb the highest rockery in the imperial garden at dusk and secretly take a peek at the outside world.
In May 2024, as the sun was setting, I walked under the eaves of the Forbidden City. The glazed tiles and red walls looked more solemn in the warm light, and light and shadow were intertwined between the palaces and pillars. At that moment, I felt like I had returned to that era.
I seemed to see Puyi riding a bicycle wandering around the Forbidden City, Chongzhen looking up to the sky and sighing that his ministers had led him to self-destruction, and countless people imprisoned in the deep palace living their lives day after day.
The Forbidden City is so small that even the residence of the empress and concubines is just a tiny room. All you see are the same old red walls and the square sky.
The Forbidden City is so big that when you open one door, there is another door. This place has trapped them for their entire lives.
From the late Qing Dynasty to the new century, a hundred years have passed like a flash, but some things are as enduring as gold and stone and are not easy to be destroyed. That is Beijing's tolerance and innovation. The ancient central axis has silently witnessed the vicissitudes of the times.
The dusk of the Forbidden City has long gone, and the day has dawned in the morning light.
In the autumn of 1899, Wang Yirong, a senior academician at the Imperial Academy during the Qing Dynasty, discovered the secrets of oracle bone inscriptions from a medical prescription, extending China's reliable history back over 3,300 years. In-depth research on oracle bone inscriptions led to the rediscovery of the Yin Ruins in Anyang, Henan, astonishing the entire archaeological community.
Anyang on the Huan River is worthy of its reputation. It was the imperial capital three thousand years ago. In June 2025, I came to Anyang, the last city in my tour of the ten ancient capitals. It is known as the ancient capital of seven dynasties. In addition to the Yin Ruins on the banks of the Huan River, which contain amazing treasures from the Shang Dynasty, this city was also the capital of the Cao Wei, Later Zhao, Ran Wei, Former Yan, Eastern Wei, and Northern Qi dynasties.
After I traveled around the historical sites in Anyang and Handan, I found that the history of Yecheng was inherited by Anyang, but the ruins are in Linzhang, Handan. Handan plus Anyang is the complete ancient capital of Yecheng, and the complete ancient capital of seven dynasties.
Looking back through history, from the ruins of the Shang capital of Yin to the remains of Yecheng, the sparsely covered grasses bear witness to the rise and fall of millennia, while the piles of bones preserve a record of the journey toward civilization. Remember the Yin-Ye-Zhang relationship, the turmoil of Gandan, and from the banks of the Huan River to the foot of the Taihang Mountains, a journey of just a few days traverses 3,300 years. China, from this beginning.
Datong has been a place for both farming and animal husbandry since ancient times, and has often fluctuated between the advance and retreat of the two major civilizations. It is a bridgehead for the integration of the two major civilizations of Central Plains farming and northern nomadism. It was also here that the Northern Wei Dynasty took on the role of defender of Chinese civilization after the Western Jin Dynasty moved south, and began to integrate with Han culture, interpreting what is meant by "Great Harmony in the World".
In May 2024, I followed the path of Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin to Datong. Liang Sicheng was deeply moved here. He said, "In the Yungang Grottoes, one can clearly see that the inherent blood of Chinese art has suddenly infiltrated with vigorous and powerful foreign influences. This great exchange of different ethnic cultures has endowed our culture with vigorous vitality."
In that era of great change, nomadic and farming peoples merged for the first time, integrating their respective civilizations into one. Datong, as the imperial capital for one generation, the capital for two generations, and an important town in the nine frontiers, witnessed the formation of the Chinese nation.
The grand grottoes, the ancient buildings overlooking the mountains and rivers, the rugged and heroic statues, the lifelike murals... these artistic treasures all come from a tremendous power. It is the power of collision and the power of fusion, as if still saying: Datong, Datong, Datong all over the world!
People often say Zhengzhou is a modern city brought here by trains, lacking the aura of an ancient capital. When the eight ancient capitals were originally selected, there was some controversy surrounding Zhengzhou. However, the Chinese Civilization Origins Project has revealed that the ancient city of Wangchenggang, located in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, is the legendary Xia capital, "Yudu Yangcheng." Following the Xia Dynasty, the early Shang Dynasty capital of Bodu was established here, and the remains of the Shang capital are now located in Zhengzhou's Guancheng District. Duke Zhou measured the sun's shadow in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, and this place is considered the center of heaven and earth.
Nestled in the heart of nature, Zhengzhou boasts a rich and ancient history. From being a major capital during the early Shang Dynasty, deeply influenced by the culture of Luoyang and Kaifeng during the Tang and Song dynasties, to seizing the opportunities of the modern railway era to become the capital of Henan Province, this ancient yet youthful city boasts a rich heritage.
In April 2023, I came to Zhengzhou and felt that the most worth visiting places here are the Henan Museum and the "Heaven and Earth" historical building complex.
While visiting the museum, I heard someone next to me say, "Our country's cultural confidence is precisely given by the artifacts and history in these museums." Indeed, Central Plains culture has a strong sense of inclusiveness and connotation. The great Chinese nation, through its eternal rivers, can all feel the glory of its past.
The extension of the railway has given Zhengzhou the opportunity to communicate with the world, and its ancient heritage has pushed it forward step by step until it comes to us.
The Observatory in the Tiandizhong complex
In November 2024, I arrived in Chengdu, enjoying the city's tranquility. I explored history at the Chengdu Museum, met Prime Minister Zhuge Liang at the Wuhou Temple, reminisced about the past at Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, and reunited with Yang Sheng'an at Guihu Park.
Just as the billboards say, "A park city beneath snow-capped mountains, a happy Chengdu amidst fireworks," "Ba Shi" is my most profound impression of this city. Chengdu is especially lively in the evenings, and during the blues hour, the streets are packed with people, illuminated by the lights, drinking, dining, and chatting, creating a little paradise where you can enjoy a long and fulfilling life.
What is a Bashi life? Adequate food and clothing, a harmonious family, successful children, convenient access to the subway, and delicious meals...all the good things are Bashi.
Those local accents that are endowed with affection and stories not only carry the memories of the people of Shu, but are also the totems of our culture. During those days in Chengdu, I felt very comfortable from the bottom of my heart. It was so nice to drink tea and chat under the big trees and by the stream!
Meng Yuanlao, in the Southern Song Dynasty, often recalled the prosperity of Bianjing. In his "Dreams of Splendor in the Capital", he recalled: "The eight wildernesses are gathering together, all nations are connected, flowers are everywhere, and there are endless spring outings! Xiao drums and flutes are blazing in the air, and several families are feasting at night..."
After reading it, I felt like I was sleepwalking through Huaxu, as if I had a big dream, wandering through the streets and alleys, and fell into the Eastern Capital. The young people of Wuling were singing along the way. Such a magnificent scene will never be seen again.
In June 2022, I took a train from Kaifeng to Hangzhou. At that time, I read a lot of books about the Song Dynasty, which also prompted the beginning of my journey to the ancient capital. I wanted to go to those places in person to see what the difference was between what was written in the books and the ancient capital today.
When I walked through Kaifeng Prefecture, walked along the ruins of Tokyo City, passed the Bian River, and walked to Longting, I seemed to see Meng Yuanlao as I walked.
On the bustling streets of Bianjing, he wrote with a pen in hand, weeping as he wrote. I picked up my wine glass and walked over to him, holding his shoulder and whispering, "Old Man Meng, I want to ask you: Just how delicious are the chicken heads from the Liangmen Lihe family? Why don't we go to Fanlou and have some fun? Take me back to the most prosperous and magnificent dream in the world, okay? Okay."
Setting foot in this once world-class capital, one feels as if one has stepped back in time, through millennia. Today, Kaifeng has experienced a period of prosperity and splendor, then returned to a tranquil and peaceful state. Coming to a thousand-year-old capital that has weathered countless ups and downs, what could be so unforgettable?
Bai Juyi wrote in "Remembering Jiangnan": "Of Jiangnan, I miss Hangzhou most; I search for osmanthus flowers in the moonlight at a mountain temple, and watch the tide from my pillow at a county pavilion. When will I visit again?"
From June 2022 to July 2025, it has been three years since I moved south from Kaifeng to Hangzhou and joined the China-TravelNote travel agency. Along the way, I have experienced countless cultural and historical journeys across time and space.
At that time, I wrote in my circle of friends: It was just an accidental trip that put me at a turning point in the future.
But in reality, I once had a strong prejudice against Hangzhou, often saying that the city lacked a sense of civic life, that you could only see stories set against a historical backdrop, but not experience the realities of the present. During these three years of traveling here, I've gradually come to understand that this city exhibits its unique charm in a more restrained and profound way.
I remember once returning from a long trip, I couldn't wait to reach West Lake. The moment I laid eyes on the scenery, tears welled up in my eyes. Like all homes, it's a place we reunite with through farewell. The moment you step away from it, you'll discover, with mixed feelings, that abandoning it is life's greatest mistake, and leaving it is the greatest regret.
Flowers in spring, summer, autumn and winter, evening clouds and moon over willows. Countless people have traveled between mountains and rivers in their youth, and in their old age, they sorted out their thoughts by the lake and recalled the past. Like Zhang Dai, West Lake appears in my dreams every day, and the urban character of Hangzhou has long been integrated into my life.
"Dreams of the Southern Song Dynasty", "Old Things in the Wulin", "Dreams of Taoan", "Dreaming of West Lake"... Standing at the intersection of ancient and modern times, although there are regrets, there is also often joy.
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China's ancient capitals, since the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, were all built in the center of the world. Yu's capital Yangcheng was in Zhengzhou, Shang's capital Yin was in Anyang, and Eastern Zhou's Luoyi was in Luoyang, all located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. For the ever-expanding Chinese ancestors, choosing the center of the world to establish a country was an early need for the dynasty pioneers to balance the four directions and expand the territory.
The Qin Dynasty chose the Guanzhong Plain as its capital, driven by strategic considerations of warfare and military geography. This "strategic location, a land surrounded by barriers on all sides" ultimately led to the establishment of China's first unified dynasty in 221 BC. Subsequent dynasties shifted back and forth between the ancient "twin capitals of China"—Xi'an and Luoyang.
Kaifeng's rise was due to its water conservancy. The Bian Canal connected to the Grand Canal, facilitating water transport. It was as prosperous as the Qingming Shanghe Tu in the Northern Song Dynasty. However, it had a fatal flaw: the lack of a military barrier, which indirectly affected the Jingkang Change.
China's ancient capitals were divided into the north and the south. Nanjing, as the capital, represented the rise of the economy in the Yangtze River Basin. This was also true for Hangzhou and Chengdu. However, due to geopolitical disadvantages, the dynasties that established their capitals here either had to stay in a corner or embark on a long journey to the north.
Beijing and Datong are both dividing points between agricultural civilization and grassland civilization. Building the capital here served as a springboard for nomadic peoples to move south to fight for the Central Plains, or for the emperor of the Ming Dynasty to guard the national border and use the capital as a frontier.
The purpose of building the ten ancient capitals is clear from this. In essence, a history of national capitals is a condensed history of China.
After writing about so many ancient capitals and the history of so many dynasties, I suddenly remembered the ending of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty". The author did not continue to describe the decline of the Ming Dynasty and the changes in the world after the Qing army entered the pass. He wrote about Xu Xiake climbing to the top of Huangshan Mountain and listening to the snow melting all day long.
The concluding sentence reads: "I wrote about Xu Xiake because I wanted to tell you that the so-called century-long fame and eternal reputation are nothing compared to one thing: living your life the way you like."
This post summarizes my observations on China's ten ancient capitals. Reading about a city is a long and fascinating process. Ever since these ancient capitals appeared on my bookshelf, I've discovered that "traveling through reading" is exactly what I've always wanted to do. I hope you and I, in this mortal world, can find our own happiness.
I suggest you save this tweet and try to visit one more ancient capital every year. I am waiting for you to explore civilization together!
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