Chinanews, Beijing, November 12 - After 50 years’ excavation, the ruins of Han Dynasty Changan City has finally been brought to light.

 

Located to the northwest of Xi'an, Changan City was the capital of the Han Dynasty, its history starting about 2,200 years ago. Before its heyday came to an end some 200 years later, Changan with an area of about 36 sq km was one of the two biggest metropolises in the world, the other being Rome.

 

The well-preserved ruins has passed the legend of Changan on to the later ages, and the effort of archeologists has unfolded more details of its myth.

 

Changan City consisted of 11 districts, connected by 8 main streets (about 45-55 meters wide). There were 12 gates around the city. The neat structure of the city must be the result of careful urban planning, being very similar to the structure of many modern cities.

 

According to historical documents, the population in the downtown area of Changan City was about 240 thousand, and the total population added to the residents in rural areas was 1.2 million, an amazing figure by the standard of that time.

 

The imperial palace, Weiyang Palace, in Changan City was also very impressive. Covering 5 sq km, it is seven times the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing.