From Wuhan (武汉), Xiangyang is 302 km away and can be reached in only 3 hours by train. How to Get to XiangyangĪlthough quite far from any major cities, Xiangyang is easily accessible by both train and bus. Even amongst a field of plastic petals, selfie snappers and photographers alike are drawn to how the artificial flowers add to the romantic landscape of the city. ![]() With the nearby palace adorned with its curved roofs and gold trim, the lush gardens with a splash of pink cherry blossoms perfectly offset the dramatic background.Īfter closer inspection, you will find that many of the flowers are plastic fakes, which is understandable since cherry blossoms are known to bloom only once a year during a short time frame. With vantage points from towering pagodas and the massive city walls, tourists will find themselves constantly finding new perspectives of this tranquil ancient capital.īehind the moat and over the imposing city walls lays the imperial garden. Grand Palaces and Fake Blossomsīeing a carefully designed cinematographic movie set, every angle of Tang City is just itching to be photographed. For those wanting to truly feel the romanticized China which we often play out in our imaginations, the gates to the Tang Dynasty are open. Xiangyang’s Tang City is one of the only places in China where you can find such a large density of traditional Chinese architecture without having dreary skyscrapers looming in the distance. Many sites around China, such as the Porcelain Tower and the Yellow Crane Tower, have been destroyed long ago and have only just recently been rebuilt. Just because a hundred-year-old palace or temple has been reconstructed does not make the sight any less breathtaking to behold. While it may not be an actual 700-year-old ancient city, it is, however, a real movie set.įor those who are familiar with Chinese tourist sites, they recognize that even the most historic of destinations have lost any traces of their original glory long ago. One thing which may deter people from visiting the Tang City movie set is that it lacks authenticity. The local tourists can be found dramatically posing in gardens and by palace gates in their flowing Tang Dynasty dresses, bringing their fantasy of being an Empress of China to life. The city even offers costume rentals for those looking to take embracing Chinese culture a step further. Efforts have been made to try and attract more people with advertisements in the nearby megacities, but for the time being, guests will have all of this Tang Dynasty dream world to their own.Īll of the movie set’s temples, palaces, houses, and markets are built and decorated to make one truly feel like they have stepped back in time. Unlike many of the other famous tourist destinations in China, this playground of ancient Chinese buildings is practically devoid of tourists. Unlike, fake storefronts and cardboard scenery which may come to mind when thinking of Hollywood, this movie set could be a fully operational city if it only had the villagers. What makes this city truly remarkable is that all of the buildings can be entered and explored. This extensively elaborate city is so much more than just a movie set, it transports its visitors into a bygone age of Chinese history which can only be found in movies. Most of the actors are open to talking to tourists and posing for photos, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the shooting of the scene. In these select locations, actors and extras not currently used in the scene can be found lounging nearby or eating at one of the restaurants located in the marketplace. Tourists are free to explore all corners of the city, except, of course, certain areas closed off for filming. ![]() Other than being an up and coming tourist attraction, Xiangyang’s Tang city has been the location for several TV shows such as The Rise of Phoenixes (天盛长歌) and Colorful Bones (艳骨) as well as movies like Legend of the Demon Cat (妖猫传). With an obvious lack of tourists due to its remote location and recent construction, you are truly immersed in a massive showcase of ancient Chinese architecture. In this ginormous movie set tourists are free to not only explore the city streets and markets, but also have free reign to enter any of the towers, houses, palaces, and temples. Xiangyang is home to one of the best-kept secrets in all of China, a massive mock Tang Dynasty city (618-907 AD) Located in Northwest Hubei, the town of Xiangyang (襄阳) is home to over 2 million people but is considered a small town by Chinese standards. Unwittingly, travelers skip over many hidden gems which are mere stopovers between provincial capitals. With so many tourists jumping from major city to sprawling metropolis, it is hard to get off the beaten track in China.
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