The Locations Appearing in “The Glory of the Tang Dynasty” and Their Present-Day Counterparts

Since its premiere, “The Glory of the Tang Dynasty” has captivated a wide audience, quickly becoming the top-rated TV drama in China. The intricate plot, filled with twists and turns, keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The drama features several geographical locations, as Zhou Ying, the protagonist, travels far and wide for her business ventures. This article delves into these locations, their historical significance, and their present-day names.

The Setting of the Story – Jingyang

The drama begins with the magnificent ancient city of Jingyang, shown on screen. As the camera zooms in, we see Zhou Ying and Zhou Lao Si performing street acts. Zhou Ying, after earning some money, ventures into the bustling streets, passing by tall city walls, pawnshops, cloth stores, herbal medicine shops, blacksmiths, and street performers. The vibrant streets are filled with the aromas of various local delicacies, including steamed buns, meat sandwiches, cold noodles, and biangbiang noodles.
The vibrant city depicted in the drama is Jingyang. But where are these places today? What are their present-day names?

Speaking of Jingyang County, we cannot overlook Sanyuan County. Historically, the real Zhou Ying married into the Wu family in Jingyang from the Zhou family’s grand mansion in Sanyuan. In essence, Zhou Ying was a wealthy young woman from a prominent family, a perfect match for Wu Pin.

The Zhou family’s mansion, now known as the Zhou Family Mansion Folk Museum, located 4 kilometers northwest of Sanyuan County, served as the filming location for the Wu family’s mansion in the drama. Most of the drama’s plot unfolds within the walls of this grand compound.

Tip: Admission to the Zhou Family Mansion Folk Museum costs 20 yuan.

The History of Jingyang County

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Xi’an was the political center of Shaanxi, while Sanyuan and Jingyang served as the economic hubs. Located in the central part of the Guanzhong Basin, Sanyuan is bordered by Fengyuan to the south, Menghouyuan to the west, and Bailuyuan to the north, hence its name. Jingyang lies north of the Jing River, and as “yang” traditionally refers to the north of a body of water, it was named Jingyang. Both counties are known for their expansive plains and well-developed irrigation systems, historically renowned as the “most fertile land within the Pass.” They are considered the “strategic location of the Guanzhong region,” known as “the upper county of Guanzhong,” and have always been vital agricultural areas in Guanzhong. Throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, they were significant cotton and grain-producing regions in Guanzhong. In the drama, after Zhou Ying burned down a field of opium and stole 2,000 taels of silver from Pozi Ma, she used an additional 2,000 taels from a pawn shop to hoard cotton. She cornered the cotton market in the entire Guanzhong region, ultimately doubling her profits through this shrewd business move.

Dihua in the Drama is Present-Day Urumqi, Xinjiang

Sanyuan and Jingyang served as distribution centers for goods from the east and west. Sanyuan primarily functioned as a hub connecting the northwest and southeast, while Jingyang was the gathering place for lake tea, Lanzhou tobacco, and hides from Ganning.

Jingyang, due to its high-quality water, became a major hub for tea in northwestern China during the Qing dynasty. It served as the processing and loading center for tea, as well as a distribution and transit center for tea sales across the northwest.

Thanks to its strategic location, Shaanxi saw the influx of lynx, wolf, leopard, fox, and sheep hides from Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. These hides were primarily processed in Jingyang and then sold throughout the country. Jingyang emerged as a key center for the processing, transportation, and distribution of hides and fur products from the northwest.

In the drama, the popularity of imported fabrics in Jingyang leads to a decline in sales of locally produced cloth. This prompts Zhou Ying and Shen Xingyi to travel to Dihua (present-day Urumqi, Xinjiang) to conduct business. This is a plausible scenario, as individuals from Jingyang had already established trade routes to Dihua.

The Decline of Jingyang and Sanyuan

It is said that after the Longhai Railway traversed Shaanxi in the mid-Republic of China period, and numerous factories from occupied territories relocated to Xi’an, Xi’an’s economy flourished, surpassing Jingyang and Sanyuan, becoming the economic center of Shaanxi. This resulted in the gradual decline of Jingyang and Sanyuan. The road connecting Jingyang to Dihua has evolved into today’s Silk Road, leaving a significant mark on history. As the drama is based on a true story, many of the historical contexts featured in the drama are historically accurate and well-documented.