MORE than a thousand years ago, 17 emperors of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) spent their daily lives presiding over the affairs of state in the majestic Daming Palace, dotted with main halls, royal gardens, pavilions, lakes and attics. Today, though the prosperity, stunning scenery and original buildings have disappeared, its great historical heritage value remains.

A replica of the Daming Palace is housed in World Expo 2010 Shanghai's Urban Best Practices Area showcasing Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi Province, and offers a peak through time to the romance of the bygone Tang era.

Covering 960 square meters, the replica is based on Qifeng Palace, literally meaning "a building for phoenix to live,'' a side palace to the Hanyuan Palace, the main hall of the Daming Palace complex.

At the site, a documentary named "Flying over Daming Palace" brings the flourishing Tang history to life, showcasing many historical and cultural relics in the ancient city, the preservation process of the palace ruins and its influence on society.

Historians discovered full sketches of the Daming Palace and its many relics from diggings in the city in the middle of last century. Consequently more than 100,000 residents who were living where the Tang people once stood have been moved and the city is turning the area into a 3.2-square-kilometer Daming Palace National Heritage Park.

The project of building a national heritage park started among the palace ruins three years ago and is scheduled to open to the public on October 1.

Some 1,300 years ago, the Tang Dynasty's capital Chang'an, today's Xi'an, was one of the world's biggest cities.

The Tang Dynasty, spanning almost 300 years, represented an apex in terms of economic and cultural development in ancient China which at the time was a remarkably open society with unprecedented frequent and extensive interaction with the rest of the world.

Construction of Daming Palace, the most splendid architectural complex of the Tang Dynasty, began in the year 634, the eighth year under the Zhenguan Reign of Emperor Taizong, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and was completed under the reign of the following Emperor Gaozong.

After the establishment of Hanyuan Palace, the main hall in Daming Palace, Gaozong began to hold court there, and for the next 200 years Daming became the seat of Tang emperors' supreme power. Situated in the northern part of Chang'an city, the palace was built facing south, covering a total of 3.2 square kilometers, with 11 gates. It was the largest of three major palaces in Chang'an, and the political hub of the empire for 230 years. It is said the Daming Palace was four times the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

However it was completely destroyed in a savage fire during heavy wars at the end of Tang era which left the whole town in ruins. Archeological work began in the 1950s and has progressed with remarkable achievements, along the way discovering architectural remnants and many cultural relics.

The project is a perfect blend between the preservation of ancient cultural heritage and the construction of an ecological landscape. Once completed, it will be one of the world's largest cultural heritage parks.

It will contain the remnants of the once-thriving palace and a museum to exhibit cultural relics and present patrons with a realistic depiction of the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.

Repairs of the most majestic gate of the glorious Tang Dynasty, the "Danfeng Gate," were completed on site. This used to be a ritual place where the emperor ascended the throne or declared an amnesty. As the first large-scale single project commenced in the ruins of the park, the gate occupies an area of 7,699 square meters, the largest area on the whole historical site.

Xi'an Pavilion Highlights

As a highlight of the Urban Best Pratices Area at World Expo 2010 Shanghai, a replica of a palace built in Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) style is expected to take visitors on a journey through time to explore the history and prosperity of Chang'an (today's Xi'an), the country's ancient capital.

A 3-D movie will transport people on a fantastic journey as they stroll around the modern exhibition hall. Through the film's special effects, they will be able to experience both the splendid Daming Palace from 1,000 years ago and the modern heritage park being developed in its place.

Xi'an City has also introduced several rare artifacts dating back over 1,000 years to the heavyweight exhibition list at the Shaanxi Pavilion. Robots made to resemble Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and his consort Yang Yuhuan will welcome visitors and performances portraying the legendary royal lovers' stories will be staged regularly in the pavilion.

City Powers Ahead

Today's Xi'an has become an important incubator for China's science and technology education, state defense industry and high-tech industrial development.

About 200,000 students graduate from more than 50 universities and colleges in the Shaanxi Province capital each year. The city produces an average of over 3,000 patents annually, helping boost its creativity and innovation in science and technology.

A dozen new high-tech industrial zones and creative industry parks such as Qujiang Cultural New District and Xi'an International Port Zone have been set up to support social and economic development.

A new blueprint for the Guanzhong-Tianshui economic zone was drafted last year, marking a milestone in building Xi'an into an international metropolis.

3-D movie

A 3-D movie will take visitors on a fantastic journey in time as they stroll around the exhibition hall of Xi'an Pavilion. Through the film's special effects, people can experience both the splendid Daming Palace from 1,000 years ago and the modern heritage park being developed.

3.2 sq km

More than 100,000 residents who were living where the Tang relics were uncovered have been moved and the city is turning the area into a 3.2-square-kilometer Daming Palace National Heritage Park. It was the largest of three major palaces in Chang'an and is said to have been four times the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing.