Daming Palace was established in 634 AD, in the eight year of the reign of Emperor Taizong. It was the largest of three major palaces in Chang'an, and the political hub of the empire for 240 years, until the Tang moved their capital to Luoyang in Henan Province in 904. Its architecture was hugely influential on many other major public buildings constructed in its wake, and Daming Palace remains one of the largest and finest examples of the Tang style. Its grounds cover 3.2 square kilometres, and feature various terraces, halls, temples, pavilions and administrative buildings, all of which will be incorporated into the Relics Park.

The Daming Palace Heritage Site Preservation Revelation Project is a key scheme among 100 others outlined under China's Eleventh Five-Year Plan. It's intended to be a model of large-scale heritage site restoration, and with it demonstrate how such an endeavour can help drive wider city development.

Travel: You can take Bus No. 2, 216, or 262 and get off at the Tongjiaxiang stop; or take Bus No. 16, 17, 22, 38, 46, 104, 209, or 801 and get off at the Taihua Road stop.

Fee: a part of the park has archeological discoveries and old ruins, and the fee for this part is about 60 RMB. The rest of the theme park is free. China Highlights can help you design a trip to this and other places.