Gu Han Terrace (Hanzhong Museum)
古汉台
Said to be the former palace site of Liu Bang, King of Han. Now the Hanzhong Museum, it houses the treasured "Thirteen Stone Gate Inscriptions" in calligraphy.
Gu Han Terrace is located in the city center of Hantai District. It is said to be the palace site where Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang lived when he was enfeoffed as King of Han. The raised terrace is about 7 meters high and symbolizes the "birthplace of the Han dynasty". It is now the site of the Hanzhong Museum. The grounds contain the Wangjiang Tower, the Guiyin Hall and remains of the Han King's Palace, where ancient architecture and gardens complement each other. The museum's most precious display is the "Thirteen Stone Gate Inscriptions". Before the Shimen Reservoir was built in the 1970s, thirteen rock inscriptions from the Han, Wei and Song dynasties, found inside and outside the Shimen gorge on the Baoxie Road, were cut out whole and moved into the museum. Among them, the *Ode to the Stone Gate* and *Inscription of the Stone Gate* are considered peaks of Han clerical and Wei stele calligraphy. There is also an exhibition of Hanzhong's historical artifacts. Admission is generally free with an ID card. The museum is closed on Mondays, but check the official announcements. It is located in the city center, about 500 meters from the Bai Jiang Altar, and the two can be visited on foot.
Opening hours
Closed Mondays; approx. 09:00–17:00 (check official announcements)
Nearby sights
- Baijiang Altar
- Dongguan Old Street
- Tianhan Wetland Park
- Xinghan Shengjing & Tianhan Tower
- Mount Han (Nanzheng)
- Shimen Plank Road
- Nanhu Lake (Nanzheng)
- Shangyuanguan Ancient Town