Box 5.1 Chang’an City in Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty was established in 618 AD. Emperor
Gaozu of Tang changed Daxing of Sui Dynasty to
Chang’an City, and constructed Daming Palace in the
northeast of Chang’an City in October, AD 634. After
that, Tang Dynasty upgraded Chang’an City three times.
The upgraded Chang’an City was huge, with an area of
90 square kilometers in total.
The layout of Chang’an City has three characteristics:
(1) strictly symmetrical from east to west; (2) street
blocks neatly arrayed; and (3) full use of terrain. During
the most prosperous period of Tang Dynasty, Chang’an
City’s urban population reached 1 million, being the
largest capital in the world. The infrastructure and
facilities in Chang’an City were perfect, with systematic
water diversion, drainage system and traffic facilities
and management. The Grand Canal and ancient mail
post network ensured the food supply in the Capital and
transmission of ordinances from the central government