Yuan Dynasty Upper Capital Site, A timeless expanse of historic grasslands

The north bank of Lightning River, located about 20 kilometers northeast of Shangdu Town, Zhenglan Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

On the vast grassland

3.9

Historical site

Introduction

Xanadu is located in the territory of Wuyi Ranch in Zhenglan Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It was built in the sixth year of the Xianzong period of the Mongol Empire (1256) and was called "Kaipingfu". Later renamed "Shangdu" in 1264, it was also known as "Shangjing" and "Luanjing". It was a summer resort for the emperors and their concubines of the Yuan Dynasty. In 1956 and 1973, archaeological investigations were carried out by the cultural relic work team of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia University. Shangdu consists of three layers of city walls including Imperial City, Palace City and Outer City with a circumference of about 9 kilometers. There are palaces, pavilions and other buildings such as the Crystal Palace, the Hongxi Palace, the Muqing Ge, and the Da'an Ge inside the city. Rivers flow into the city, and ponds are built. The Imperial City surrounds the Palace City, and the city walls are inlaid with stones. The southern half is the official residence and the region where the prefecture is located. The Qianyuan Temple and the Longguang Huayan Temple are built in the northeast and northwest corners, respectively. The Outer City is entirely built with mud and is located on the northwest side of the Imperial City. The Emperor's Royal Garden is located in the north, while the southern part is an area for offices, temples, and workshops. The areas outside the city in the east, south, and west are marketplaces, residential areas, and warehouses. It was abandoned during the early years of the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, but the city walls and building foundations still remain on the surface. In Mongolian, Shangdu is called "Zhaonaimansumuer," meaning "a place with many temples". It is listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit.

Address

The north bank of Lightning River, located about 20 kilometers northeast of Shangdu Town, Zhenglan Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Opening hours

06:00-18:00
Last entry time:18:00 (Monday-Sunday, January 1st-December 31st)

Phone 0479-4225606