Xianyang Palace
34°24′57″N 108°51′45″E / 34.415817°N 108.862563°E
| Xianyang Palace | |
|---|---|
| Native name 咸陽宮 (Xián Yáng Gōng) (Chinese) | |
Interactive map of Xianyang Palace | |
| Location | Xi'an, Shaanxi, China |
| Coordinates | 34°24′57″N 108°51′45″E / 34.415817°N 108.862563°E |
| Period | Warring States / Qin Dynasty |
| Built | 350 BCE |
| Built for | First Emperor of China: Qin Shi Huang |
| Demolished | 206 BCE |
Xianyang Palace (咸陽宮) was the royal palace complex of the State of Qin and later the palace of the First Emperor of China during the Qin Dynasty. It was located15 km/9 miles west of Xi'an City (西安), Shaanxi Province, east of Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province.
The Xianyang Palace was the core of the capital and the political center of Xianyang City. The palace was a complex terraced building, and had elaborate murals inside. It was built in the 4th century BCE and burnt down by Xiang Yu after the fall of the Qin dynasty in 206 BCE. Archaeological excavation of the Xianyang Palace includes three sites: Xianyang Palace No.1, Xianyang Palace No.2, and Xianyang Palace No.3.
The layout of Xianyang Palace has long been a subject of scholarly debate. Most Chinese imperial capitals constructed fortified city walls beyond the palace complexes for military defense. However, no archaeological evidence of such walls has yet been found at the site of Xianyang.
In January 1988, the State Council of the People's Republic of China officially designated the "Site of Qin Xianyang City" as part of the third batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.