Zhouwangcheng Square

Zhouwangcheng Square

Zhouwangcheng Square is divided into two parts, with Luoyang’s busiest thoroughfare, Zhongzhou Road, running through it. The section north of Zhongzhou Road is smaller, featuring the main structures — the “Son of Heaven Drives Six” sculpture and the “Son of Heaven Drives Six” Chariot and Horse Pit (for more details, see the Zhouwangcheng Son of Heaven Drives Six Museum), along with public lawns and landscaped pathways for leisure.

The southern part of Zhongzhou Road features an overall design that is simple yet majestic. The square is divided into five sections: the North Entrance Area, the River of History Area, the Luoyi Royal City Area, the South Entrance Area, and the Shaded Resting Area. Among these, the Luoyi Royal City Area will showcase a large-scale group sculpture titled “Duke of Zhou Establishes Luoyi,” designed by the renowned Chinese sculptor Qian Shaowu and vividly representing Zhou culture. At the center of the square is a circular water feature, along with a captivating musical fountain with lights.

The reason why Zhouwangcheng Square adopts Zhou culture as its theme and includes the “Duke of Zhou Establishes Luoyi” sculpture is primarily due to the following: among the 13 dynasties that established their capitals in Luoyang, the Zhou Dynasty had the longest reign, lasting 717 years — nearly half of Luoyang’s over 1,500-year history as a capital city. The “Son of Heaven Drives Six” sculpture and Chariot and Horse Pit from the first phase of the northern part of the square already strongly reflect elements of Zhou culture, so it was essential, for the sake of continuity and unity, for the square to also represent the historical and cultural legacy of the Zhou Dynasty. Furthermore, Zhouwangcheng was the first actual capital city built within what is now downtown Luoyang.

Duke of Zhou was the first in the world to propose using a grid system to plan a city, predating the Western concept of grid-based urban planning by 600 years. The Rites of Zhou · Kaogong Ji (Record of Trades), which served as the basis for the construction of Zhouwangcheng, contains the earliest known urban planning blueprint in China — the Sanli Map. Its planning philosophy has had a profound influence on city construction throughout successive Chinese dynasties. Whether discussing today’s urban development achievements or recounting the glories of ancient city construction, one must acknowledge the wisdom of Duke of Zhou, making this an iconic element for Luoyang’s tourism industry.

Address: No. 6 Renmin West Road, Xigong District, Luoyang City

Type: Square

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour