Site of Xanadu (the Upper Capital of the Yuan Dynasty)

Site of Xanadu

The Site of Xanadu is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Site of Xanadu is located on the Jinlianchuan Grassland, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Shangdu Town in Zhenglan Banner. It is also known as Luyang or Luanjing due to its position on the northern bank of the Luan River.

Xanadu was the summer capital of the Yuan Dynasty, the largest empire in world history. It was established in the mid-13th century by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, on the northern grasslands of China. Together with Dadu (present-day Beijing), it formed the two primary capitals of the Yuan Dynasty and served as the political, economic, military, and cultural center of China and even the world at that time. It was referred to as the "Heart of the World" and the "Center of the World," functioning as an international metropolis alongside other renowned cities such as Paris and Rome. During the Yuan Dynasty’s rule from 1256 to 1358, it became a powerful empire spanning Eurasia, conquering forty countries and covering a territory of 30 million square kilometers, exerting an unprecedented influence in human history. During its time as the capital, key inventions from China—including movable type printing, the compass, gunpowder, and the earliest cannons (known as fire lances)—were transmitted to Europe. Meanwhile, mathematics, astronomy, religion, art, and medicine from Western and West Asian regions were also introduced to China during this period.

Marco Polo's Travels was the first book to introduce Xanadu to Europeans. In the book, he described the construction of the upper capital as an “Oriental myth,” which greatly fascinated Europeans in the Middle Ages. In 1797, the British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote the famous poem “Kubla Khan.” After its publication, it sparked a longing among European aristocrats and literati for Xanadu. They referred to this capital city—comprising palaces, grasslands, forests, and streams—as Xanadu. To this day, people in Europe and America still use this name to describe mysterious and beautiful places. European astronomers even named Saturn’s sixth moon after it.

Such a magnificent metropolis was burned down by peasant rebel forces in 1358. After experiencing several wars, it was eventually abandoned and became “a ruin embracing a great historical civilization.” Although the ancient city was devastated by war, its influence remains immense. It stands not only as a physical testament to the glorious history of the Yuan Dynasty but also holds unique historical, artistic, and scientific value for the study of Yuan Dynasty history and Mongol-Yuan culture. It is a precious heritage of the Chinese nation and peoples around the world. Despite enduring countless trials, it has retained much of its original appearance and is currently the best-preserved grassland capital. It serves as a repository of an imperial era’s memory and also records the remarkable historical transformations of the Chahar Mongols who lived on the Jinlianchuan Grassland.

The Site of Xanadu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 29, 2012.

Source: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Tourism Administration

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level