Weiyang Palace, in the southwest of Chang'an city -- now Xi'an, built during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), was one of the main palaces in Chang'an, according to experts.

Constructed around 200 BC, it was the political center and national symbol of the Western Han Dynasty.

From the time of its completion, the Western Han Dynasty emperors lived here. Therefore, leading to it becoming the archetypal Han palace in the poetry of future generations.

The total area of Weiyang Palace is six times that of the Palace Museum in Beijing. Its architectural dimensions profoundly influenced the palace architecture of later generations -- and established the basic structure of palace architecture in China for more than 2,000 years.

On June 22 in 2014, it was listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO at the 38th World Heritage Conference, as one of the seven sites of Shaanxi province along the Silk Road Routes Network of the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor.

Address: Hancheng village, Weiyang district, Xi’an, Shaanxi province

Ticket price: free

A panoramic view of the ruins of Jiaofang Hall in the Weiyang Palace of ancient Chang'an. [Photo/Xinhua]