Tang Paradise

Step Back in Time_ Discover the Glories of Tang Dynasty at Datang Furong Garden

Dear international friends, welcome to Datang Furong Garden in Shaanxi – known as the "living fossil of Tang Dynasty culture"! As China’s only large-scale royal garden-style cultural theme park themed on the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), it covers 667,000 square meters (1,000 mu), with 200,000 square meters (300 mu) of water area. It perfectly recreates the grandeur and exquisite aesthetics of Tang’s imperial gardens. Let’s dive into its most iconic spots and step into the bustling world of ancient China’s golden age!

1. Ziyun Tower: The "Iconic Palace" of Tang Dynasty

As the park’s landmark, Ziyun Tower draws inspiration from the imperial "Ziyun Pavilion" of Chang’an (Tang’s capital, modern Xi’an) and gets its name from the romantic Tang poem by Li Bai: "Morning like green clouds, evening fades to snow." Standing 39 meters tall with 4 floors, it features the classic Tang "double-eave gable roof" covered in nearly 10,000 vermilion glazed tiles – glowing like flames in the sun. The overlapping brackets under the eaves (a unique Tang architectural feature) are exquisitely carved, blending practical support with artistic beauty, showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of Tang artisans.

Inside, the 1st floor is a "Tang Imperial Life Experience Hall," displaying full-scale replicas of Tang royal furniture: intricately carved red sandalwood tables and chairs, silk screens embroidered with phoenix patterns, and bronze tableware. Sit down, touch these "time-traveling" relics, and imagine the daily life of Tang emperors and nobles. The 2nd floor houses a "Tang Culture Exhibition Hall," with posters, videos, and a stunning 10-meter-long scroll painting – "Street Scenes of Prosperous Chang’an." It depicts Tang’s streets, shops, restaurants, and people, like a "living version of the famous Qingming Riverside Scroll" for the Tang Dynasty!

For panoramic views of the garden, head to the 4th-floor observation deck. Overlook the shimmering Qujiang South Lake, the curving eaves of the Ladies’ Pavilion, and the lively Tang Market. At dusk, the setting sun casts golden light on the glazed tiles, reflecting on the lake – a scene that evokes the grandeur of Tang poet Wang Wei’s verse, yet with the soft charm of a water town.

2. Fengming Jiutian Theater: Immerse Yourself in Tang’s Song and Dance

If Ziyun Tower is a "static relic of Tang architecture," Fengming Jiutian Theater is a "dynamic carrier of Tang culture." Its design is clever: adopting the Tang "gabled and hip roof" style, the eaves extend 8 meters outward, ending in lifelike phoenix carvings. Hanging below are 128 bronze bells – when the wind blows, they ring like phoenixes singing (hence the theater’s name, "Phoenix Singing Under the Nine Heavens"). The gray brick walls are inlaid with nearly 100 hand-carved Tang-style reliefs, depicting dances, musical performances, and literati gatherings – each taking 3 months to create!

Inside, the 1,200-seat circular auditorium ensures every viewer has a great view. The stage uses modern technology: lifting platforms, water screen projections, and rotating floors, paired with Tang-style backdrops for an immersive "time-travel" experience. Don’t miss the daily grand musical "Dream Back to Tang" – a must-see to understand Tang culture! Told from a Tang princess’s perspective, it covers imperial life, foreign exchanges, and cultural prosperity in 5 chapters: "Prologue: Dream of Chang’an," "Act 1: Imperial Feast," "Act 2: Silk Road Customs," "Act 3: Literati Gatherings," and "Epilogue: Eternal Prosperity."

In "Imperial Feast," dancers wear 5kg Tang royal robes embroidered with golden peonies, swirling like blooming flowers. "Silk Road Customs" blends Western Asian dance styles, with performers playing Tang musical instruments like the hu jia (a flute-like instrument) and pipa. The most breathtaking part? The epilogue, where a 10-meter-tall "virtual Giant Wild Goose Pagoda" rises on stage, paired with falling petals and dazzling lights – making you feel like you’re at Chang’an’s Lantern Festival, experiencing the "night sky full of fireworks and joy."

3. Qujiang South Lake & Wangchun Pavilion: Tang’s Landscape Poetry Come to Life

Datang Furong Garden’s beauty lies not just in palaces and dances, but in its "mountains and waters" garden scenery – best represented by Qujiang South Lake and Wangchun Pavilion. The 300-mu lake draws water from the ancient Qujiang Pool (dating back to the Tang Dynasty). Its clear waters are lined with willow trees and lotus flowers: soft willows in spring, blooming lotuses in summer, floating reed catkins in autumn, and snow-covered shores in winter. It’s like a "moving Tang landscape painting" that changes with the seasons!

The lake’s highlight is the Tang-style painted boats. Modeled after imperial Tang cruise ships, these 15-meter-long boats have dragon carvings on the bow and red silk lanterns on the stern. Sit on soft silk cushions, cruise the lake, and listen to stories of Tang emperors’ lake tours. On weekends, don’t miss the "Tang Water Wedding" performances: actors wear traditional Tang wedding attire – grooms in red robes and headscarves, brides in pink dresses and golden crowns – reenacting royal wedding rituals like "bowing to heaven and earth" and "drinking cross-cup wine." It’s a romantic and lively scene that attracts crowds!

Wangchun Pavilion is the best spot to view the lake. Located on the west bank, this 28-meter-tall, 3-story pavilion has a Tang "pyramid-shaped roof" covered in green glazed tiles, blending with the blue water and green trees. On the 1st floor, admire calligraphy carvings of Yan Zhenqing (a famous Tang calligrapher) – his powerful handwriting shows the "grand beauty" of Tang calligraphy. The 2nd floor has a tea house: try Shaanxi’s famous "Fucha" (a fermented tea) and sip while enjoying the lake view, experiencing the Tang literati’s "harmony between tea and zen." The 3rd floor is an open observation deck – look north to Ziyun Tower, south to the lake, east to Tang Market, and west to modern Xi’an. Ancient and modern scenes blend, making you sigh: "A thousand years pass in a moment, but beauty lasts forever."

4. Savor the Tang: A Bite of Chang’an’s Glorious Past

How can you visit Datang Furong Garden without trying the "flavors of the Tang Dynasty"? The Tang Market Food Street inside the park gathers tons of specialty dishes that recreate Tang-era tastes – so you can enjoy the scenery and savor the flavors of ancient Chang’an at the same time!

Shaanxi Liangpi (Cold Noodles): This dish already existed in the Tang Dynasty, when it was called "leng tao mian" (chilled noodles). Today’s liangpi has chewy noodles tossed in spicy, savory sauce – it’s super refreshing, and one of Shaanxi locals’ all-time favorite home-style snacks!

Rougamo (Meat Sandwich): Back in the Tang Dynasty, this was known as "hu bing" (foreign-style pancake). It’s a crispy bun stuffed with tender, slow-braised pork – take one bite, and the meaty aroma fills your mouth. It’s like a "Chinese hamburger" you can’t miss!

Yangrou Paomo (Lamb Soup with Steamed Bread): This classic comes from "yang geng" (lamb broth) of the Tang Dynasty. You break steamed bread into small pieces, then simmer them in rich lamb soup with vermicelli and wood ear mushrooms. It warms you up from the inside out – perfect for winter!

Zenggao (Glutinous Rice Cake): This was a dessert served in the Tang imperial court! Made by steaming glutinous rice, red dates, and red beans, it’s soft, sweet, and carries a lucky meaning – "rising higher and achieving more" (great for a tasty wish!).

Huanggui Persimmon Cake: Made with persimmons from Lintong (a famous persimmon-growing area near Xi’an), it’s crispy on the outside and soft inside. Sweet but not cloying – a classic Shaanxi treat you have to try!

These foods aren’t just delicious – they’re little pieces of Tang Dynasty food culture. Every bite lets you feel the "warm, everyday vibe" of the prosperous Tang era.

5. Feel the Heritage: Carrying the Tang Legacy Forward

By now, you probably have a good sense of what Datang Furong Garden is all about. This garden isn’t just a copy of Tang Dynasty history and culture – it’s a vibrant space where tradition is lived, not just displayed. Using modern technology and creative ideas, it brings the "sleeping" Tang Dynasty to life, acting as a cultural bridge between the past and present. And in know, it’s easier than ever to step into real Tang-era moments through its latest festivals and events!

Celebrate Like a Tang Noble: Festival Experiences

The park’s calendar is packed with traditional Tang festivals recreated for modern visitors:

Shangsi Festival (March/April): Listed as a Xi’an intangible cultural heritage in 2025, this ancient spring festival lets you join Tang-style traditions like "river banquets" (feasting by the lake), poetry gatherings, and even "flower worship" ceremonies. It’s also the perfect time to wear Hanfu (traditional Chinese robes) – the park leads Xi’an’s Hanfu culture scene, with over 400 nearby shops offering costumes and makeup.

Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October): Don’t miss the grand "Moon Worship Ritual" by Furong Lake. Dressed in royal Tang attire, ceremonial officials recite ancient prayers for family reunion, while you enjoy lantern shows, mooncake-tasting games, and the stunning water-light show Dream Chasing in Tang – where actors on painted boats blend with projections of Li Bai (Tang’s famous poet) "inviting the moon to drink".

Lantern Festival (February): The park glows with 40 giant lantern displays (like the phoenix-themed "Phoenix Spreading Its Wings"). Join the "Thousand-Person Yuanxiao Feast" at Chang’an Wharf: make glutinous rice balls, try paper-cutting or clay figurine-making, and solve Tang-style riddles (scan a QR code for English hints!) – all while feeling the joy of the Tang-era "Lantern Festival chaos".

Dive Deeper: Immersive Shows & Culture Events

Beyond festivals, daily experiences let you "live" Tang culture:

Hanfu Grand Ceremony (May 1-5): Watch top designers’ Tang-style fashion shows, take Hanfu makeup classes, or even join a "Flower God" contest – winners get a free spot at the fancy "Qujiang Flower Moon Banquet".

Poetry & Art Interactions: The park has turned into a "walking Tang poetry scroll" – catch Poetry on a Boat performances where actors recite famous poems, or see dynamic projections of Tang paintings like Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers come to life.

Intangible Heritage Shows: Don’t miss Drum – a thunderous performance of Xi’an Drum Music (a UNESCO heritage art) that traces Tang musical roots, or Iron Armor Parade where actors in Tang military gear recreate ancient drills.

Today, Datang Furong Garden is a shining star of Shaanxi’s cultural tourism scene – drawing millions of visitors yearly to feel the Tang’s charm. Here, you don’t just see the prosperity and romance of ancient Tang – you join it.

We hope this tour makes you fall in love with this Tang-style garden – and with China’s amazing traditional culture too. May the legacy of the Tang Dynasty shine bright all over the world!