Everybody knows about China’s great monument the Forbidden City but are you familiar with China’s original manmade wonder?
Size and Scope of the Da Ming Palace
Located in China’s Shaanxi Province, the Da Ming Palace was actually a cluster of palaces, one of the most magnificent in the world. This extravagant palace cluster was 4.5 times the size of China’s Forbidden City
and roughly the same size as New York’s Central Park. It had 11 gates and in front of its main gate, the Danfeng Gate, there was a road that would be the widest in the world if it still existed today. It had many halls as well. Its main hall, the Hanyuan Hall, was significantly larger than the Forbidden City’s largest structure, the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
How it Was Built
The Da Ming palace was built using a technique called Dougong (斗拱) or bracket set. Basically, it is an architectural technique that utilizes interlocking pieces of wood to allow for better support of large overhangs and roof extensions. This helped to protect the wood palace from the elements and made it look more ornate. The palace was also built using a special system of column arrangements that maximized the floor space of the palace.
History of the Da Ming Palace
It was built during the Tang Dynasty by Emperor Taizong, who originally designed the palace for his father. However, before the palace could be finished, Emperor Taizong and his father died. Then, 27 years later, Emperor Gaozong finished building the palace and moved into it. After that, it served as the emperor’s residence and government center for the Tang Dynasty for 16 emperors and one empress. It was the center of China’s golden age of innovation and peace. Its reign as one of China’s most prized architectural wonders ended when, in the last years of the Tang Dynasty, it was destroyed in a war.
What Happened to the Da Ming Palace
Thankfully, in October 2010, the Da Ming Palace Heritage Park was built on the site of the Da Ming Palace 
so that people can learn about the fascinating and rich history of the Da Ming Palace. In the park, you can find the unearthed cultural artifacts and ruins from the Da Ming Palace. Amazingly, two-thirds of the park is open to the public free of charge. It is currently rated the 36th best thing to do in Xi’an on TripAdvisor.
Clearly, the Da Ming Palace remains one of the most important palaces in world history, and its ruins are well-worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Xi’an.
Check these sources out:
https://www.shine.cn/archive/sunday/now-and-then/Daming-Palace-once-worlds-largest/shdaily.shtml
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/daminggong/2011-08/18/content_13144435.htm
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shaanxi/xian/daming-palace.htm
Great article! I never knew that Da Ming Palace was actually a cluster of palaces.
Very thought provoking, overall nicely done. It is interesting to know the Forbidden City is like a creation of many generations of emperor together added little their own ideas into this.