Millennium Impressions of Chinese Culture – A Tour of Famous Historical Cities in China

Content: China boasts numerous historical cities carrying thousands of years of cultural heritage, such as Xi’an, Luoyang and Beijing. They are epitomes of Chinese civilization, witnessing dynastic changes and preserving rich cultural relics.

In the thousands of years of Chinese civilization, a number of historical cities with profound heritage and unique styles have been nurtured. They are vessels of time, embodying the wisdom and spirit of the Chinese nation. Xi’an, formerly known as Chang’an, served as the capital of thirteen dynasties. The grandeur of the Terracotta Army and the majesty of the Ancient City wall tell the story of the prosperity of the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties, and it is the starting point of the Silk Road and an important birthplace of Chinese civilization.

Luoyang, known as the “capital of thirteen dynasties”, the exquisite carvings of Longmen Grottoes and the ethereal Buddhist chants of White Horse Temple confirm its profound heritage as the core of Central Plains Culture, and it is also a place where peony culture and ancient capital civilization blend. Beijing, from the Yuan Dadu to the imperial capital of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City and the winding Great Wall carry the collision between the rise and fall of dynasties and modern prosperity, making it a model of an Ancient City with both historical depth and contemporary vitality.

Pingyao Ancient City, the best-preserved ancient county town of the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, with gray bricks, gray tiles and crisscross streets, completely retains the layout of ancient county towns, known as a “living Museum of Ming and Qing architecture”. Lijiang Ancient City, built against mountains and rivers, integrates Naxi Culture with Central Plains architecture. The scenery of small bridges and flowing water and unique folk customs make it a representative of the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In addition, ancient cities such as Suzhou, Nanjing and Kaifeng each have their own characteristics, famous for their elegant gardens or renowned for their heritage as ancient capitals of the Six Dynasties, jointly composing the bright galaxy of Chinese history and culture.