Luoyang -- Nine Dynasties Ancient Capital, Central Chinese City: Nine Dynasties Ancient Capital, Central Chinese City

Author: Xu Jiaguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Luoyang is one of China's seven ancient capitals, a world-famous historical and cultural city located at the "center of the world," and is known as the "belly of the nine provinces." To the north lies the winding Mount Nangling, and to the south stands the ancient and majestic Mount Songshan. "Ever cherishing the land between the Yong River and Luo River, the splendid legacy of our ancestors." Over 10,000 years ago, our ancestors began to thrive on this beautiful and prosperous land, engaging in fishing, hunting, and farming. In Luoyang, more than ten ancient city ruins have been unearthed, including the Erlitou capital of the Shang Dynasty, the Yanshi Commercial City, the Eastern Zhou Royal City, the Han and Wei Luoyang City, and the Sui and Tang Daxing Capital City. These collectively represent the essence of dynastic capital construction and the development of the state-building system, earning them the title of the "Five Ancient City Ruins of Luoyang."
"The world's famous gardens are in Luoyang," and "Luoyang's peonies are the best under the heavens." Luoyang's gardens, numbering in the hundreds, range from majestic pavilions and towers reaching into the heavens to exquisite and delicate structures adorned with vibrant colors. Generations of scholars and poets have left their ink on ancient temples and walls, adding poetic charm to the city. The earliest historical documents of the Chinese nation, the "He Tu Luo Shu," originated from Luoyang. Fu Xi, revered as the "forefather of humanity," created the Bagua and the Nine Maps based on the He Tu and Luo Shu. Ban Gu wrote China's first dynastic history, the Book of Han, here. Sima Guang completed his monumental historical work, the Zizhi Tongjian, in this city. The renowned "Seven Scholars of Jian'an," "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove," and "Twenty-Four Friends of the Jin Valley" once gathered here, composing brilliant works. A single essay by Zuo Si, the Three Capitals Rhapsody, once made "Luoyang paper expensive," and Luoyang can be said to be the starting point of Chinese culture.
Luoyang's famous attractions include: the Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Guanlin Temple, Ancient Tombs Museum, Qiantang Hall, Baiyun Mountain, Laojun Mountain, Jiguan Cave, and the hometown of Xuanzang.