Zhang Qian Memorial Hall

　　The Zhang Qian Memorial Hall is located in Raojiaying Village, Bowang Town, 3 kilometers from the county town. It is a national A-level tourist attraction and a cultural landscape built around the tomb of Zhang Qian, the Han Dynasty Marquis of Bowang. The site features lush trees and blooming flowers, offering ample space for rest and exploration. Attractions include the Tomb of Zhang Qian, Han Dynasty stone tigers, a double-sided stone stele, a replica of a Han Dynasty memorial archway, and a traditional-style grand hall.

　　Zhang Qian’s Tomb is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The tomb faces south and measures 35.6 meters from north to south, 20 meters from east to west, and is 5 meters high, shaped like an inverted trapezoid. It is surrounded by ancient cypresses and swaying bamboo. In 2007, it was included in the tentative list for the transnational joint application for UNESCO World Heritage status of the “Silk Road.”

　　Zhang Qian, a renowned diplomat and explorer of the Western Han Dynasty and the pioneer of the “Silk Road,” was originally from Bowang Village, about 2 kilometers south of Hanzhong Chenggu County, situated on the banks of the Han River. His tomb is located in Raojiaying Village, 2.3 kilometers west of the county town. It is now the Zhang Qian Memorial Hall and was among the first batch of provincial-level key cultural relics protection units announced by the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government in 1956.

　　The tomb faces south and measures 35.6 meters from north to south, 20 meters from east to west, and is 5 meters high, shaped like an inverted trapezoid. It is surrounded by towering ancient cypresses and graceful bamboo. In front of the tomb are a pair of Han Dynasty stone tigers, whose rough yet majestic carving and bold composition reflect their ancient origin.

　　The local people, in memory of Zhang Qian, have imbued the stone tigers with mythological significance. Legend has it that they are a pair of “celestial loom stones” obtained by Zhang Qian during his celestial journey from the weaving maidens of the Heavenly Palace. Before liberation, these stone tigers were worshipped by locals as deities for healing, praying for offspring, and invoking rain.

　　The cemetery complex is symmetrically arranged along a central axis centered on the Offering Hall. Inside the Offering Hall are large murals painted by renowned artist Zhang Zhongguang, titled “Zhang Qian’s Mission to the Western Regions” and “The Opening of the Silk Road.” The east and west side halls serve as exhibition rooms, showcasing the “Great Achievements of Zhang Qian’s Life” and folk art exhibitions featuring distinctive characteristics of southern Shaanxi. The memorial archway-style gate, with its blue bricks and tubular tiles, is simple yet elegant. The paired gate towers, with their upturned eaves and bracket sets, reflect the architectural style of Han Dynasty palaces.

　　In 1986 and 1993, two “International Zhang Qian Academic Symposia” were held here, promoting the pioneering and enterprising spirit of Zhang Qian, who dared to be the first in the world. These events had a significant international impact. Today, Chenggu holds an annual Zhang Qian Cultural and Arts Festival.

　　Address: Chenggu Suburban Area. Tel: 0916-7236064. Ticket: 6 RMB

　　

　　Zhang Qian (164 BC~114 BC)　　Zhang Qian (unknown~114 BC) was a native of Chenggu in Hanzhong Commandery (present-day Chenggu County, Shaanxi). He was an outstanding diplomat of the Western Han Dynasty and the pioneer of the ancient “Silk Road.” During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, in an effort to ally with the Da Yuezhi to attack the Xiongnu, envoys were recruited to travel to the Da Yuezhi. Zhang Qian, then a court attendant, volunteered. In the third year of the Jianyuan era (138 BC), Zhang Qian led a group of over a hundred people westward into the Western Regions. On the journey, he was captured by the Xiongnu and detained for ten years, during which he was forced to perform hard labor such as herding sheep and horses. Throughout his captivity, he carefully preserved the imperial staff symbolizing his diplomatic mission and remained committed to his objective. Eventually, he seized an opportunity to escape, traveled westward for dozens of days, and arrived in Dayuan. By then, the Da Yuezhi had migrated from the Ili River basin to Central Asia. Zhang Qian then proceeded... More+