Han Culture Scenic Spot in Xuzhou

To appreciate the essence of cultures of two Han Dynasties in Xuzhou, you must visit the Han Culture Scenic Spot, which covers an area of 1,400 mu.

The core area consists of essential scenic spots of two Han Dynasties, like King Chu Tomb in Lion Mountain, Han Terracotta Warriors Museum, Han Culture Exchange center (demonstrating the arts of Han relief stone sculptures), Liu’s Ancestral Hall, Zhulin Temple, Yanggui Mountain Exhibition Hall (the Queen’s Tomb) and Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum, including Han Tombs, Han Terracotta Warriors and Han relief stone sculptures, also called “three wonders of Han Dynasty” and focusing on demonstrating the essence of the cultures of two Han Dynasties.

It is the largest Han Culture Conservation Base in Xuzhou area, with the most abundant connotations and the strongest style of two Han Dynasties.

“There are terracotta warriors, tombs and Han paintings, in addition to mountains, rivers and ancient temples”. The “three wonders of Han Dynasty” (Han Tombs, Han Terracotta Warriors and Han relief stone sculptures), Liu’s Ancestral Hall and Zhulin Temple--the Top One Buddhist Site for Nuts, as well as other scenic spots, present a three-dimensional history of Han Dynasty.

It is the largest themed park of Han Culture and national AAAA-class elaborate cultural tourism zone.

The Tomb of King Chu

Located in the core area of Han Culture scenic spot, the Tomb of King Chu in Lion Mountain was where Liu Wu was buried, the third generation of King Chu enfeoffed in Xuzhou in the early Han Dynasty. Han Terracotta Warriors 300 meters away from its west represent the army guarding the Tomb of King Chu. The tomb was dug into the mountain, with a unique structure and a gigantic project. The amount of stones dug out was as high as 5,100 cubic meters. There are more than 2,000 pieces of various kinds of precious cultural relics, like gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, pottery, excavated from the tomb, including a piece of jade clothing sewn with gold wire with the most jade pieces and of the highest value in the same kind of articles excavated in China, as well as a lacquer coffin embedded with jades, jade wine vessels (zhi) and gold belt buckles and so on, which are breathtaking for the elaborate and wonderful techniques. The excavation of the tomb was praised as the first of the top ten new archaeological discoveries in China in 1995 and one of the top 100 great archaeological discoveries in the 20th century in China. Yanggui Mountain, located south of the Tomb of King Chu, was ascertained as the tomb of the queen of King Chu. Due to the complexity of color protection techniques, it has not been excavated yet for the time being. The demonstration pavilion of the Queen Tomb has been built to demonstrate the shape and structure of tombs of feudal lord kings and queens in Han Dynasty.

Zhulin Temple

Zhulin Temple is the Top One Buddhist Site for nuts. The first Buddhist nut in China -- Jingjian Master came from Xuzhou, who was born in the late years of Western Jin Dynasty (291 A.D.), became a nut at the age of 24 and passed away at the age of 70. According to the records, Zhulin Temple in Ming and Qing Dynasties was built along the mountain form, with a magnificent scale, which was one of the eight great temples in Xuzhou. Later, experiencing chaos caused by wars, the temple was in bad repair for years. Till the Japanese invasion into China in the middle of the last century, Zhulin Temple was plundered wantonly and the ancient monastery of thousand years was destroyed in a moment. Xhulin Temple in Xuzhou occupies an important historical position. Especially the anecdote that Bodhisattva Skanda appeared mysteriously during the War of Resistance against Japan and returned from Japan after the war highlights the special cultural values and legendary colors. Teh newly built Zhulin Temple is located on the Mount Camel, north of Xuzhou Han Culture Scenic Spot, being a typical “temple on the mount”. The Chinese Buddhism recreation area consists of Goddess of Mercy Pavilion, Top One Nut Memorial Hall, Mountain Gates in the south and north, Bell and Drum towers, in addition to Zhulin Temple, focusing on embodying the profound and magnificent Han Culture and creating the unique cultural landscape, “appreciating Han Culture in Lion Mountains and worship the Buddha in Zhulin Temple”. The future development of Zhulin Temple will surround the five great culture construction, including special research and studies, agricultural and Buddhist experience, social charities, sightseeing and performance arts and international exchange, with related facilities improved.

Han Terracotta Warriors Museum

Han Terracotta Warriors in Xuhzou are another important discovery after Qin Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. Being the funeral objects for King Chu, the 4,000 pieces Han figurines depicted thoughts, expressions and emotions of the soldiers in Han armies vividly in a free style, which are of extremely high artistic value. 100 meters north of Han Terracotta Warriors Museum (in the Lion Pond) is the newly-built Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum, which is the only one in China. The museum consists of two square buildings in the form of juedou, which uses the architectural pattern of roof in Han Dynasty, in the form of four slopes. What is on show are the restored figurine pits and elaborately repaired terracotta warriors. Han Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xuzhou was constructed on the original site, covering an area of 6,000 square meters and consisting of the main hall of Han Terracotta Warriors and Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum, where the terracotta warriors are arranged in order in the six figurine pits and make a magnificent and mighty underground army.

Han Relief Stone Sculpture Museum

With its whole length being about 300 meters, Han Relief Stone Sculpture Corridor lies east of Lion Pond, which is the first museum with “Experience in Han Relief Stone Sculpture Culture” as the theme in China. The exhibition hall can be divided into three areas: animation show and leisure zone; interactive zone of analogue production of Han relief stone sculptures and rubbings; exhibition zone of elaborate works. Among them the animated film, with patterns of Han relief stone sculptures as the theme, which can be referred to as the first in China, creates the new artistic manifestation of the culture of Han relief stone sculptures. Relying on modern high-tech sound, light and electronic techniques, the film reproduces the realistic life scenes in Han Dynasty vividly, which can make tourists be personally on the scene, and demonstrates Han relief stone sculptures, rubbings production, seal cutting and calligraphy inscriptions in the form of interaction on the spot. The interaction and participation not only add to cultural features, but make tourists fully integrate into culture. In addition, there are also four Han relief stone sculptures groups arranged in the exhibition hall, “traveling by horses and carts”, “wars and competitions in military skills”, “production and life” and “fairy world”, which reproduce vividly all the aspects in Han Dynasty, like politics, economy, culture and beliefs and fully reflects the spiritual temperament and aesthetic pursuits.

Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum

Being the first museum built in the water in China, Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum was constructed in the original sites of No. 5 and 6 terracotta pits, being two square buildings in the form of juedou. Where the museum was constructed are the pits where cavalrymen and horse figurines were excavated. Later, due to the construction of the bricks and tiles plant, the pits were damaged and the terracotta figurines were completely taken out. The Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum displays the restored pits and elaborately restored terracotta warriors.

Han Culture Performance & Art Center

Being the important cultural and tourism facilities to enrich and improve Han Culture Scenic Spot in Xuzhou, Han Culture Performance & Art Center is an important building to enrich and improve the landscapes of Han Culture Scenic Spot, which can greatly enrich the activities tourists and citizens participate in and sightseeing contents.