1. Things To Know Before You Go
Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City,also called Datang Everbright City, is not only a group of antique buildings but also an immersive theme park where people can experience the culture of the prosperous Tang Dynasty in person. Tourists can also experience the enchanting charm of the combination of the unique cultural atmosphere and modern technology. It focuses on traditional Chinese history and culture, providing visitors with the visual enjoyment of Tang Dynasty architecture.
2. Why Is Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City So Special?
2.1 The Tangible Benefits Bring To Tourists
Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City adopts the Tang elements as the main line, making great efforts to create a consumption paradise that integrates shopping, dining, entertainment, leisure and tourism together. The streets are ablaze with lights and colors at night, tourists can either go sightseeing or engage in consumption, fully experiencing the pleasure of modern commercial civilization and recreation while savoring the culture of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
2.2 Attractions Overview
2.2.1 Geographical Features
Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City is located at the foot of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Yanta District, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province. It is the only large-scale pedestrian street with a group of antique buildings in the style of the Tang Dynasty in China, taking the culture of the prosperous Tang Dynasty as the background. In addition, it is also a landmark scenic area in Xi'an, with a total construction area of 650,000 square meters, 2,100 meters long from north to south and 500 meters wide from east to west.
2.2.2 Tourism Resources
The overall layout of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City takes the line connecting the South Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the Ruins of the Ancient City Wall as the axis, it is divided into five functional areas, namely the commercial pedestrian street, Zhenguan Square, Cultural Exchange Square, Celebration Square and Wall Ruins Park in Tang City, so it is abundant in tourism resources.
2.2.3 Architecture Characteristics
The architectural style of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City is mainly featured in the style of the Tang Dynasty, demonstrating the architectural features of the prosperous Tang period, which are magnificent with an emphasis on symmetry and harmony. The roofs are paved with yellow glazed tiles that sparkle in the sunlight, looking extremely imposing, the red walls are carved with various patterns with delicate details, the stone lions in front of the gates are majestic and solemn, guarding this antique-style building.
2.2.4 Culture Activities
Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City is very rich in activities, the classic examples are the inscriptions on the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda described by Bai Juyi and the drunken chanting of poems by the Immortal Poet Li Bai. Apart from this, the ladies with hairpins in ancient poems and paintings are presented to the world in the forms of modern dance, live performances, and on-site interactions, every step along the kilometer-long street presents a different scene. The traditional and the fashionable collide wonderfully and the ancient and the modern complement each other.
The rich cultural activities in the block, such as the water dance and light show at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, "Return to Chang'an", and the performance of the tumbler and other performance art themed shows, are well worth watching by all the tourists.
Apart from this, visitors can enjoy magnificent court dances, taste the delicious foods, view various traditional handicrafts, even participate in interactive activities such as DIY handicrafts and taking pictures in Chinese Imperial Costumes.
3. How To Get To Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City
The following are the main public transportation methods to get to Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City
Subway: Tourists can take Metro Line 4 in Xi'an and get off at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Station, and then reach the destination on foot.
Bus: Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City is open all day and the ticket is free. Tourists can take buses such as No. 242, 619, 715, 720 and get off at Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City to arrive directly.
4. Highlights Of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City
There are many squares and sculptures waiting to be explored by the visitors, the main squares such as Zhenguan Square, Kaiyuan Square, and the South Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the theme sculptures like Zhenguan Monument, and the relief columns of Tang historical and cultural themes, they are all worth visiting.
4.1 The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda And The North Square Of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔及大雁塔北广场
It is located in the central position of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City and is one of the iconic buildings in Xi'an. Tourists can climb the pagoda to overlook the beautiful scenery of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City from a distance and learn about the historical background and its cultural significance. It is recommended that tourists go there in the evening so that they can enjoy the daytime scenery and not miss the light show at night.
There is a regular fountain show at 19:00 every night in the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, its water-light show is a visual feast. When the fountains combine with music to form a spectacular water curtain show, tourists will scream continuously. Actually, it is the largest music fountain with an atmosphere in Asia, each performance lasts about ten minutes. It is recommended to arrive at the square in advance to occupy a favorable position so as to better enjoy the fountain show. Among them, the water dance, light and shadow show of the "Poetic Chang'an" light group is the core part of this performance, and the viewing time is from 19:00 to 19:10. In addition, there is also the "Inscriptions on the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda" performance. The viewing time is from 19:50 to 20:00, and the location is to the south of the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Both of these two performances provide tourists with opportunities to have an in-depth understanding of the culture of Tang Dynasty and show the prosperity and glory of the prosperous Tang period.
4.2 Poetry Street 诗词街
Poems are hung on the branches accompanied by twinkling stars, therefore creating a unique romantic atmosphere of Chang'an poems. Tourists can stroll along the Poetry Street, experiencing the poetic feelings of the ancients, such as the magnificent poem "All things in their life being are good for something, and gold will come back even if it's all spent", it means 天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来 in Chinese, thus adding a cultural charm during their itinerary.
4.3 Cultural Sculptures And Square 文化雕塑与广场
There are four major squares within Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, namely the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xuanzang Square, Zhenguan Square, and Kaiyuan Celebration Square. There are also five major cultural sculptures, including those of the Buddhist Culture of the Tang Dynasty, the Gallery of Tang Dynasty Heroes, the Reign of Zhenguan, the Entourage of Empress Wu, and the Flourishing Age of Kaiyuan. Each square and sculpture is rich in cultural connotations. thus tourists can visit them one by one to better understand the essence of prosperous Tang Dynasty.
4.3.1 Zhenguan Square 贞观广场
Zhenguan Cultural Square is the core part of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, it is composed of four groups of cultural and artistic buildings, namely Xi'an Grand Theatre, Xi'an Concert Hall, Qujiang Art Museum and Qujiang Pacific Cinema. The square adopts a three-dimensional design, with four squares on the ground floor connecting the above-ground and underground activity venues. In the overall design of Zhenguan Cultural Square, the four main buildings have a spatial symmetrical relationship with the north-south axis directly facing the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
4.3.2 Kaiyuan Square 开元广场
Kaiyuan Square is the climax of the landscape on the central axis of this ever-bright city. It is 161 meters long from north to south, 78 meters wide from east to west, with an area of about 12,200 square meters. Among them, the dry fountain covers an area of about 1,000 square meters, and the green area is about 1,300 square meters. There is a group of "Flourishing Age of Kaiyuan" sculptures and 8 coiled dragon columns with LED lights on the square. The 8 vermilion LED coiled dragon columns on the square are 20 meters high, with a diameter of 8.9 meters at the column head and 2 meters at the column body.
There are four columns on each side of the east and west, which symbolize the four directions, four poles, four peripheries and four seas. Combined with the number eight, it means all directions and accessibility, interpreting the architectural aesthetics of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City and making Kaiyuan Square an open-air palace. When the LED light columns are lit up in the night of the ancient city, it shines even more stunning and glorious.
4.3.3 South Square In Big Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔南广场
As an important Buddhist cultural theme space in Xi 'an, it combines the traditional architectural complex of the Great Ci 'en Temple to create a characteristic place of both sociality and spirituality, presenting the accumulation of ideas, spirits, concepts, culture and art.
4.3.4 Sculpture Of "All Nations Paying Homage To The Tang Dynasty" 万国来朝雕塑
After the Reign of Zhenguan and Flourishing Age of Kaiyuan, the Tang Dynasty became the most powerful and civilized country in the world at that time. It was regarded as the longed-for paradise in the East by countries all over the world, and its capital, Chang'an, was a highly anticipated holy land where an astonishing number of Hu people gathered(Hu people lived in Western Region in ancient China). The culture of the Tang Dynasty spread far and wide both in the East and the West, and the Chinese civilization had a significant impact on the world. The sculpture of "All Nations Paying Homage to the Tang Dynasty" depicts its prosperous scene when countries from all over the world came to show their respects.
4.3.5 The Sculpture Of Empress Wu's Entourage 武后行从雕塑
Taking Zhang Xuan's "The Procession of Empress Wu" by the Tang Dynasty painter of court ladies as the blueprint, this group of sculptures is located between the Zhenguan Square and the Kaiyuan Square. It inherits the prosperity of the Zhenguan period and ushers in the flourishing age of Kaiyuan, fully demonstrating the magnificent scene of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
4.3.6 Relief Columns Of Tang Historical And Cultural Themes 唐历史文化浮雕柱
There are 24 "Relief Columns of Tang Historical and Cultural Themes" located on both sides of the "Sculpture of Empress Wu's Entourage". They adopt the form of dougong (a system of brackets inserted between the top of a column and a crossbeam) in Tang Dynasty architecture to present 48 important cultural events in the Tang Dynasty, such as "Feast by the Qujiang River, Silk Road, Lantern Appreciation on the Shangyuan Festival", etc.
Meanwhile, the important figures in each event are represented in the form of round sculptures, fully embodying the rise and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty culture.
4.3.7 Theme Sculpture Of "Flourishing Age Of Kaiyuan" “开元盛世”主题雕塑
The total height of the theme sculpture of "Flourishing Age of Kaiyuan" is 12.95 meters. On the top layer of the pedestal stands "Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji", who is 4.59 meters tall, the height of 4.59 meters implies the supreme status of the emperor. Li Longji stands in front of a huge circular dragon wall, fully displaying his imperial demeanor. The second layer features six most highly regarded ministers by Emperor Xuanzong and twenty envoys from foreign states. On the third layer, forty-two figurines of musicians are playing various musical instruments heartily, presenting a magnificent and grand scene. The entire sculptural group consists of seventy-eight figures, creating a joyous atmosphere of people living and working in peace and contentment during the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
4.3.8 Zhenguan Monument 贞观纪念碑
The Zhenguan Monument is a landmark sculpture of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City, it consists of a statue of Li Shimin (an emperor) on horseback and the surrounding subsidiary sculptures. In the middle, Li Shimin is majestically astride a tall horse, his hand shaking the reins as if he was about to spur the horse forward, looking full of high spirits. Around him, a 24-member honor guard with an equal number of buglers and flag-bearers, two drummers, three civil officials and three military generals closely follow. The four characters "Reign of Zhenguan" are engraved on the front of the monument body, and on the back are several hundred words of the list of important policies and events during the Zhenguan period.
4.4 Xi 'an Concert Hall 西安音乐厅
As a stand-alone venue with international top-notch standards in this ever-bright city, Xi'an Concert Hall consists of a large symphony concert hall that can accommodate 1,300 spectators, as well as two small indoor concert halls and a pop music concert hall. Large-scale music galas and music competitions are often held in the concert hall, allowing people to appreciate the world's top-notch art.
4.5 Featured Performances
There are many special performances in this ever-bright city, such as "The Secret Box of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty", "The Reign of Zhenguan", "Return to Chang'an" and "The Tumbler in Tang Costume", etc. These performances show the culture and history of the Tang Dynasty through forms like dancing and composing as well as chanting poems. It is recommended that tourists may check the performance schedule in advance and arrange their itineraries reasonably so as to watch the performances they are interested in.
4.5.1 The Secret Box Of The Prosperous Tang Dynasty 盛唐密盒
It is the most popular performance in Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City recently. Taking famous figures in the Tang Dynasty such as Li Shimin, Di Renjie, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui as characters, it interacts with tourists in the form of mystery boxes. Each character has classic quotes and unique personality traits. Their identities are revealed through conversations with tourists, bringing novel experiences to the audience.
4.5.2 The Reign Of Zhenguan 贞观之治
The themed performance of "The Reign of Zhenguan" is set against the backdrop of the Reign of Zhenguan under Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty. Through various art forms such as drama, dance, and martial arts, it presents the prosperous scene of the Tang Dynasty and the wise rule of Emperor Taizong.
4.5.3 Return To Chang'an 再回长安
It is a large-scale historical and cultural performance drama themed on the urban and humanistic context of Xi'an from the Tang Dynasty to the present. Setting in the Tang Dynasty, this drama tells a story about the feelings of family and nation, it takes the audience into a world that is both familiar and strange through the elaborate sets, gorgeous costumes and the excellent acting skills of the actors, allowing them to experience the atmosphere from a thousand years ago.
4.5.4 The Performance Of Real-life Tumblers 真人不倒翁表演
It is a major highlight of this ever-bright city. This performance is presented by two young ladies, "Pikachen" and "Donut". Their graceful figures and curved smiles seem like fairies traveling through time from the Tang Dynasty, attracting the attention of numerous tourists. In addition, they will also enthusiastically interact with the audience, such as "dancing with fans", "holding hands", and "making eye contact", making the on-site audience scream with excitement continuously.
4.5.5 Performance Schedule
Poetry Art: 15:00 - 15:10, 16:00 - 16:10,19:00 - 19:10, 19:30 - 19:40. on the poetry sculpture.
Float Decoration Competition: 15:30 - 15:40, 16:30 - 16:40,19:15 - 19:25, 19:45 - 19:55. Grand Tang Culture Pillars.
The Reign of Zhenguan: 15:00 - 15:10, 16:00 - 16:10, 19:20 - 19:30, 20:00 - 20:10 on the south side of the Reign of Zhenguan Sculpture.
Drama Performing on Murals: 15:30 - 15:40, 16:30 - 16:40, at the Grand Tang Culture Pillars.
Themed Performances: 12:00 - 12:10, 14:00 - 14:10. 19:00-19:10. The water dance light and shadow show is located at the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Graceful Dances along the Silk Road: 16:00 - 16:10, 17:00 - 17:10, on the east side of Kaiyuan Square.
The Tumbler at Kaiyuan Square: 14:30 - 14:35, 15:30 - 15:35, on the east side of Kaiyuan Square.
The Secret Box of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty: 14:10 - 14:20, 19:10 - 19:20, 20:00 - 20:10, 21:00 - 21:10, 22:00 - 22:10.on the west side of the time-honored Defachang(德发长).
Performance Art: 16:10 - 16:20, 17:00 - 17:10. The Spinning Hu Xuan is at the entrance of the Tang Food Workshop.
Bright Lanterns and Taibai: 14:20 - 14:30, in the center of the Concert Hall and the Grand Theater.
Music and Dance in Chang'an: 14:30 - 14:40, 15:30 - 15:40, in the center of the Art Museum and the Movie Theater.
Folk Customs Gathering Stage: 16:30 - 16:40, 17:30 - 17:40, on the south side of the Buddhist Culture Sculptures.
Music Stage: 14:20 - 14:40. The Chang'an Story Stage is on the north side of the Reign of Zhenguan Sculpture.
The Spinning Hu Xuan: 19:10 - 19:20, 20:30 - 20:40, 21:30 - 21:40, 22:30 - 22:40.
4.6 The Theme Block Of "The Longest Day In Chang'an" 长安十二时辰主题街区
It is a commercial space covering 24,000 square meters. There are eight major categories of performances throughout the day in the block, with more than a hundred large-scale shows. The block makes full use of the entire Tang Dynasty scene, combines the original plot of the film and television work as well as the unique hustle and bustle atmosphere of Chang'an City, then it designs NPC interactive performances and creates a brand-new immersive experience triggered by chance encounters, pioneering a full-dimensional immersive consumption experience for tourists. The block reproduces scenes such as the Jing'an Bureau, Tongshan Workshop, and Anren Workshop in the drama. Meanwhile, it also gathers characteristic performances such as "The Rainbow-Colored and Feathered Garment Dance", "All Nations Paying Homage to the Tang Dynasty", and "The Grand Banquet Music of the Tang Dynasty", thus leaving visitors a memorable experience.
5. Suggested Tour Routes And Attractions
Travel Route: North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → Ancient Poetry Street → Statue of Xuanzang → North Entrance of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City → Kaiyuan Square → East Side of the Pedestrian Street of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Subway Station
Starting from the North Square of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, tourists can first watch the fountain performance at 19:00 in the evening. The combination of sound, light, water, and electricity creates the largest music fountain with an amazing atmosphere which lasts for ten minutes approximately.
Starting the tour from the north to the south, passing through the Pedestrian Street of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and walking ahead 500 meters, tourists can see the Ancient Poetry Street where the poems are hung on the branches. With the twinkling stars, visitors can enjoy a unique romantic atmosphere.
After walking through the Pedestrian Street, the 800-meter-long Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Square is completed and tourists can see the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda which is about 1,300 years old, the North Entrance of this ever-bright city is just across the road.
Continuing to walk south along the Pedestrian Street, tourists will reach Kaiyuan Square, where there are many wonderful performances and activities.
Finally, arriving at the North Entrance of the Grand Tang Mall, tourists can enjoy more performances and light shows.
Note: There are a total of 22 performances in Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City starting from 19:00 in the evening. Each performance lasts for ten minutes and is free of charge! However, it is impossible for tourists to watch all of them when walking all the way to the end, so it is recommended that tourists can catch a few shows on their way back to the subway station.
Recommended Must-See Performances for Tourists
The Secret Box of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty: Two performers dressed in Tang Dynasty costumes compose and chant poems, and randomly select passers-by to come on stage to match poems.
Flower Decoration Competition: Hu Ji (women from the western region of China) and beautiful women dressed in Tang Dynasty dance on the spot.
The Reign of Zhenguan: Li Shimin travels through to the modern era to show the scene of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
Return to Chang'an: The performance with the largest venue, the most actors, and the longest duration, telling the scene of the poet Bai Juyi returning to Chang'an a thousand years ago.
The Tumbler in Tang Costume: It can be watched on the east side of Kaiyuan Square.
Interactive Experiences
Piano Key Light Strips: On both sides of the pedestrian street, when visitors step on the "piano keys", the sound of the piano can be heard, and piano pieces can also be played.
3D Human Body Printer: Tourists can press the body against the shape on a wall to experience the unique interactive fun.
6. Best Time To Go
The best time to visit Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City is between 6:30 pm and 11:00 pm. During this period, just as the last ray of the setting sun has disappeared, the lights of this ever-bright city are quietly lit up, as if the time has flown back to that glorious Tang Dynasty. Especially around 7:00 pm, visitors can not only avoid the peak of the surging crowds but also not miss the wonderful performances and light shows.
7. What To Eat?
Chang'an Gourd Chicken: It is a famous dish in the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty and got its name because it is shaped like a gourd. In Chinese, "gourd" has a homophonic sound with "fortune and prosperity", implying good health, long life, wealth, good luck, and prosperity. Consequently, this dish is not only delicious but also contains profound cultural connotations.
Fresh and delicious shrimp meat: Each shrimp ball is made of a large and intact piece of shrimp meat, which is extremely enjoyable to eat. Its unique sweet and spicy taste as well as the use of large, fresh shrimps make it a delicious food that people just can't resist.
Qin Feng's Big Blade Beef: It is an original dish in the Grand Tang Mall and is favored by diners for its large slices of beef and unique cutting method. This dish is cut with the Damascus knife, one of the world's three famous blades, making the slices of beef as thin as cicada wings. Moreover, the beef is tender and juicy with a rich flavor. It is perfectly blended with Shaanxi's characteristic seasonings and is especially suitable for those who like spicy food.
Roujiamo(Chinese Hamburger): It is a highlight in the grand food party of the Modern Chinatown in this every-bright city, which is widely recognized as the most authentic and special food in Shanxi. Its unique marinated juice makes the Roujiamo fatty but not greasy, so it tastes very delicious. Especially the Laotongguan Roujiamo(老潼关肉夹馍), whose flatbread is with a crispy texture and leaves a lingering aftertaste. In Xi'an, this delicious food is not only a daily snack for the locals but also a must-try specialty for tourists.
Zeng Cake: It is a classic famous snack in Shanxi Province and is loved by people for its bright colors, sticky and sweet taste. This delicious food is mainly made of glutinous rice, red dates and red beans. Through a special steaming process, it has a soft, glutinous, sweet and fragrant taste. Especially in Xi'an, due to its unique taste and texture, Zeng Cake has become the favorite snacks among the locals and even tourists. It is recommended to choose Tanwei Babao Zeng Cake(谭味八宝甑糕), with its eight carefully selected ingredients and ancient steaming process, has become the representative of sweet and glutinous deliciousness.
8. Nearby Attractions
8.1 Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔
It is located in the Da Ci'en Temple in the Yanta District of Xi'an City, Shanxi Province. It was first built in the third year of Yonghui in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (652 AD). It was constructed to preserve a large number of precious Buddhist scriptures, relics and other precious cultural relics brought back by Master Xuanzang from India.
The body of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is in the form of a square pavilion-style tower, its total height is 64.517 meters with a tower base height of 4.2 meters, about 48.7 meters from north to south and 45.7 meters from east to west. It is built of black bricks, with a neat structure and is extremely solid. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is not only one of the iconic buildings in Xi'an but also has a profound cultural background. There are stairs inside the tower, allowing people to spiral up to the top floor. Each side of each floor has an arched doorway, therefore, standing by the railing and looking into the distance, visitors can see the panoramic view of this ancient city.
8.2 Xi'an City Wall 西安城墙
As one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls existed in China, it is located in the central area of Xi'an City, Shanxi Province. It was first built during the Sui Tang Dynasty and expanded in the Ming Dynasty. It has a perimeter of 13.74 kilometers, a height of 12 meters, a top width of 12 - 14 meters, and a bottom width of 15 - 18 meters, with its outline in the shape of a closed rectangle. The area inside the city wall is called the ancient city area, covering an area of about 11.32 square kilometers. The famous Xi'an Bell and Drum Tower is located in the center of this ancient city area, its architectural features also embody the wisdom and art of ancient Chinese urban planning.
8.3 Tang Paradise 大唐芙蓉园
Tang Paradise, also called The Grand Tang Furong Garden, which is located at No. 99, City Road. It is a large royal garden-style cultural theme park rebuilt to the north of its original location, modeled after the style of the imperial gardens in the Tang Dynasty. It is the first park in China to comprehensively display the features of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Currently, it is not only a tourist attraction but also showcases the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty through a rich variety of cultural activities, especially the water and fire landscape performances associated with the Tang Dynasty-style imperial building complex within the park are truly distinctive among them, attracting the attention of tourists both at home and abroad for sightseeing.
9. Useful Travel Tips
It is recommended that tourists try to avoid going there around noon as it is extremely hot in Xi'an during summer, tourists can choose to go to the Da Ci'en Temple (大慈恩寺) to view the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda from a distance first, or go to the Joy City(大悦城) to escape the heat. Then they can come out to watch the performances in the evening.
There are many performances in the evening and many of them have quite shocking visual effects. Hence, they are well worth visiting and watching.