Northern Wei Mingtang Site Park
北魏明堂遗址公园
The ruins of a ritual building where Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei worshipped heaven and held court. A reconstructed circular moat surrounds a raised Mingtang hall, and the site is an important witness to the ancient capital of Pingcheng.
The Mingtang was built in the Taihe era of the Northern Wei. It was a ritual building where emperors worshipped heaven and ancestors and issued decrees. The site lies south of the old city and has been turned into a ruins park. The outer ring is a circular moat, called the Bixiong water channel. At the center stands a reconstructed raised Mingtang hall. Inside, exhibits cover Northern Wei Pingcheng and ritual culture. Visitors can see rammed-earth platform foundations and sections of the water channel uncovered by archaeologists. The park is free to enter. Museum hours depend on the announcements on site and it is usually closed on Mondays. It is about 3 kilometers from the old city's southern gate, reachable by taxi or shared bike. It pairs well with a visit to the old city walls on the same day.
Opening hours
Park open all day; exhibition hall approx. 09:00–17:00, closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Datong Confucian Temple
- Shanhua Temple
- Datong Guandi Temple
- Datong Drum Tower
- Datong Ancient City Wall
- Nine-Dragon Wall
- Huayan Temple
- Prince Dai's Mansion