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2026.04.30 18:23 GMT+8

Step into Tang Dynasty splendor at Luoyang's Mingtang and Tiantang

Updated 2026.04.30 20:21 GMT+8
CGTN

The Mingtang and Tiantang Scenic Area is a must-visit destination in Luoyang, Henan Province, offering a glimpse into the city's grandeur during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Mingtang in Luoyang, Henan Province is lit up at night. /CGTN

Mingtang and Tiantang in Luoyang, Henan Province are lit up at night. /CGTN

As night falls, the two landmark buildings are brilliantly lit up, creating the feeling of stepping back into a golden age of prosperity.

An interior view of Mingtang in Luoyang, Henan Province. /CGTN

A visitor dressed up as Wu Zetian poses for photos at Mingtang in Luoyang, Henan Province. /CGTN

Historical records show that Mingtang and Tiantang were built during the period when Wu Zetian held power. She later became the only female emperor in Chinese history. Mingtang served as the main palace hall where Wu Zetian handled state affairs and issued political orders, while Tiantang was her royal hall for Buddhist worship and is believed to have been the tallest structure in ancient China.

Tiantang in Luoyang, Henan Province is lit up at night. /CGTN

A mural depicting the grand scene of Wu Zetian receiving over a hundred foreign envoys at Mingtang is seen at Tiantang in Luoyang, Henan Province. /CGTN

These landmarks have appeared or been artistically reimagined in many screen productions set in the Tang Dynasty, including the film Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame and the TV series Luoyang.

A model of Luoyang City during the Tang Dynasty is seen at Mingtang in Luoyang, Henan Province. /CGTN

The site of the central pillar is seen at Mingtang in Luoyang, Henan Province. /CGTN

The present-day Mingtang and Tiantang are protective exhibition structures built on their original sites. While preserving archaeological remains and presenting exhibitions on Luoyang's history, they also evoke the grandeur and imposing presence of the historic originals.

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