Park of China
Overview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (cultural, 2012) |
| Name | Site of Xanadu |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Dalian |
| Nearby sites | Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples 211km, The Summer Palace, Beijing 263km, The Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Beijing 272km, The Temple of Heaven, Beijing 276km Search nearby |
| Latitude, longitude | 42.36, 116.19 Google Maps |
| Themes | Ancient City, Culture, Grassland, Archaeological sites |
About
Site of Xanadu (元上都遗址) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 as a cultural site.
The outer city is about 2.2 km a side and the inner city about 1,400 m; the palace city measures 620 m by 570 m. Temples in the inner city included the Dalongguang Huayan Temple, Qianyuan Temple and a Confucian temple.
Why it was inscribed
A witness to exchange between cultures; a unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation; an outstanding example of architecture or landscape; linked to major events, beliefs or works of art and literature.
Xanadu (Shangdu), in Zhenglan Banner, Inner Mongolia, lies on the grassland north of the Great Wall. Laid out for Kublai Khan by Liu Bingzhong in 1256, it was the summer capital of the Yuan dynasty and combined Mongol nomadic traditions with Chinese city planning; the palace city, imperial city and outer city are still clear. Religious debates held here helped spread Tibetan Buddhism across north-east Asia.
Travel tips
Location: in Shangdu town, Zhenglan Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, on the grassland by the Luan River, in the direction of Chengde and Beijing.
Getting there: by car from Beijing it takes most of a day, via the Chengde or Zhangjiakou direction to Duolun and then on to the site; or take a long-distance bus to Duolun and hire a car. Duolun county town is the nearest larger settlement.
The site: the city has three enclosures, the outer city, inner (imperial) city and palace city, with the palace and inner city laid out symmetrically. Rammed-earth platforms remain of main buildings such as the Da'an Pavilion.
Time: half a day is enough; many travellers fit it into a grassland trip between Duolun, Hexigten and Chengde.
Season: June to September is best on the grassland; winter is severe and snow can close roads.
Where to stay: Duolun town and Zhenglan Banner have hotels, and yurt camps operate on the grassland in summer.
Caution: the site is large, and vehicles can be used inside. Wear sun protection; day-night temperature differences are large, so bring a jacket even in summer.
Photo credits: Ruins of Shangdu (Xanadu): Flaumfeder (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples 211km, The Great Wall 223km, Ming Tombs 229km, The Summer Palace, Beijing 263km |
| National parks | Badaling–Ming Tombs Scenic Area 226km |
| AAAA attractions | Duolun Lake 47km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Hexigten UNESCO Global Geopark 149km |
| Historical sites | Zhenzishan Ancient Tombs 6km, Silangcheng Ancient City 19km, Huizong Temple 29km |
| National geoparks | Hexigten National Geopark 149km |
| Nature reserves | Daheishan National Nature Reserve 41km, Upper Luanhe River National Nature Reserve 78km, Saihanba National Nature Reserve 88km, Dalinor National Nature Reserve 109km |
| Historic towns | Duolunnao'er Town 30km |