The Taiji Palace

Located in the Palace City, occupied half of the city's total area. The first emperors Gaozu and Taizong lived and worked here. The palace's north gate was named Xuanwu Gate, a heavily guarded entrance. It was here in 626 that Prince Li Shimin staged a coup, took over the power and became Emperor Taizong. This coup was known in history as "The Coup at Xuanwu Gate". The palace's south gate was named Chengtian Gate. Outside the south gate and between the Palace City and the Imperial City was a 411m wide street running east to west - the Imperial Square - where the emperor held grand State ceremonies, reviewed his troops and accepted surrenders. The front Taiji Hall in the Palace was the official meeting place where the emperor held his daily court meetings. North of it was the Liangyi Hall, where the emperor held private meetings with his confidential officials. Further north were the Ganlu Hall and the Yanjia hall. All of the halls were built around the middle axis of the palace.

The Daming Palace

Located on the Longshou Tableland, was built on Emperor Gaozong's order on the basis of the old Yong'an Palace in 662-663. Of three major palaces, Danming was the largest in scale, highest in elevation and most magnificent in architecture, which agrees with the unprecedented prosperity China enjoyed during that period of time. The front hall of Daming - Hanyuan Hall, was built at the edge of Longshou Tableland elevated more than a dozen meters. Up the sloe to the hall's gate there were three parallel 75-m-long gentle ascents. Viewed from the foot of the tableland, Hanyuan Hall towered majestically in the sky as if it were a fairy palace in the heaven. Another famous hall of Daming was Linde hall, where the emperor held Buddhist services, feasted his officials and watched performances. Linde Hall was made up of three halls - the front hall, the middle hall and the rear hall. The middle hall rose higher than both the front and the rear halls, a design for better lighting. A winding corridor connected the halls with towers and pavilions on both sides. The whole plan was intricate, original and functional for various activities in the court. East of Linde Hall was the imperial garden with the Taiye Pool at its center.



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