Weiyang Palace Site

For two centuries the power centre of the Western Han, the front hall rises on a fifteen-metre rammed-earth platform where Emperor Wu appointed generals for campaigns against the Xiongnu.

Named for walls plastered with mud mixed with Sichuan pepper for warmth and fragrance, this Han empress's main hall has yielded fine floor tiles and ceramic drainage pipes.

Tens of thousands of inscribed bone tags and clay seals from Western Han central offices make this area key evidence of Han administration and official ranks.

Dug in the southwest of Weiyang Palace, this vast Western Han artificial lake with terraces is linked by tradition to imperial boating, troop reviews and naval drills.

Part of Weiyang Palace Site's history: Zhang Qian's Mission. Western Han envoy who crossed Xiongnu territory to reach the Yuezhi and Bactria, was held captive for over ten years and opened Han contact with Central Asia

Part of Weiyang Palace Site's history: Zhang Qian's Mission. Western Han emperor for fifty-four years who began the use of reign titles, sent armies against the Xiongnu and envoys to Central Asia, and weakened the princes

In 200 BCE, Chancellor Xiao He oversaw Weiyang Palace, whose eastern and northern gate towers (que), front hall, arsenal, and granary had reached substantial form; later expansions are outside this record.

Zhang Qian's Mission

Zhang Qian's missions brought Central Asian geography and politics to the Han court, enabling sustained engagement along the emerging Silk Roads.

In 138 BCE, Zhang Qian was commissioned by Emperor Wu of Han to seek the Yuezhi, beginning a new phase of Han engagement with the Western Regions.

In 2014, the Weiyang Palace site in Western Han Chang'an was inscribed as component 1442-001 of the Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor.