China
2026.03.07 16:02 GMT+8

Reading, coffee and history meet in Xiangyang's restored landmark

Updated 2026.03.07 16:02 GMT+8
CGTN

A public reading area is seen inside Zhaomingtai, a revived city landmark, in Xiangyang, Hubei Province on Feburary 23, 2026. /CGTN

A public reading area is seen inside Zhaomingtai, a revived city landmark, in Xiangyang, Hubei Province on Feburary 23, 2026. /CGTN

A public reading area is seen inside Zhaomingtai, a revived city landmark, in Xiangyang, Hubei Province on Feburary 23, 2026. /CGTN

A public reading area is seen inside Zhaomingtai, a revived city landmark, in Xiangyang, Hubei Province on Feburary 23, 2026. /CGTN

The entrance to a public reading area is seen inside Zhaomingtai, a revived city landmark, in Xiangyang, Hubei Province on February 23, 2026. /CGTN

Zhaomingtai – a city landmark believed to date back to the Tang Dynasty and recently restored as a cultural complex featuring exhibitions, performances, and leisure spaces – is seen at night in Xiangyang, Hubei Province on February 23, 2026. /CGTN

What more can a historic building offer beyond a photo stop? In Xiangyang, central China's Hubei Province, the answer lies in the heart of the ancient city.

Zhaomingtai, a local landmark believed to date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), has been revived through comprehensive restoration and is now a rising cultural complex. Today, it welcomes visitors with exhibitions, artistic performances and relaxing public spaces, drawing both residents and travelers.

Inside, a new public reading space resembles an old city library that was once located there. Free to enter, it pairs shelves of books with the aroma of coffee and tea, creating a quiet retreat above the centuries-old streets.

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