The Prime Tang

In 618 Li Yuan, an aristocrat of the Sui Dynasty, established the Tang Dynasty. Chang'an (now Xi'an, Shaanxi Province) and Luoyang were the two capitals of the dynasty. Chang'an, the western capital, was not only the nation's political, economic and cultural center but also the world's largest metropolis during the Middle Ages. It had a perimeter of 35 kilometers and a population of one million, including several thousand merchants and students from other countries. Luoyang, the eastern capital, was a hub of transportation through which all grains and supplies transported by water to the western capital had to pass. Hanjia Granary was a large government storage in Luoyang, occupying an area of 400,000 square meters. It contained several hundred pits, which could store several million kilos of grain. Chinese Folklores & Festivals Website

In the early Tang, the country was strong and prosperous and the government honest and clean. Taxes and corvée were reduced, and the feudal economy and culture flourished. It was a period known as the "Zhenguan era of good government" and "Kaiyuan era of good government," during which China stood in the forefront among the world's civilized countries. It lasted until 755 when a rebellion led by An Lushan and Shi Siming broke out and the fortunes of the dynasty declined.  www.1155815.com

中华民俗节庆网

民俗节庆网