     The Nine Dragon Screen at Datong City was built over 600 years ago and is the oldest glazed screen remaining in China . The Datong Nine Dragon Screen was built in the early Ming Dynasty, in 1392, in front of the palace of Zhu Gui , the thirteenth son of the first Ming emperor, in order to keep out evil spirits, who it was believed, could only travel in straight lines. The prince’s residence was destroyed in a war during the latter days of the Ming Dynasty, but this spectacular wall built of 426 glazed tiles still remains.

     The screen is 45.5 meters long, 8 meters tall, and 2 meters thick. The main part of the screen features a green ocean at the bottom and blue clouds at the top, with nine energetic dragons flying across the middle. The middle dragon is gold in color, with the others being either yellow or purple. The areas around the dragons have been filled in with images of plants, mountains, stones, water, and grass. The pedestal of the screen contains 75 glazed tiles featuring images of oxen, deer, rabbits, dogs, horses, sheep, lions, elephants, and other animals. The wall is capped with an intricate glazed roof. The colors and craftsmanship of the glazed tiles are still very clear even after centuries of wind, rain, and snow.

     In front of the dragon screen is a long, narrow pool of clear water. When reflected in the pool when there is a light breeze, the dragons really do appear to be dancing and cavorting.

     This Nine Dragon Screen is larger and older than the other two famous nine dragon screens in China , located in Beijing ’s Beihai Park and in the Forbidden City . A fourth such screen, the largest in China , was built in 2002 in Nanning , Guanxi.

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The Nine Dragon Screen is located in Datong , the largest city in northern Shanxi . Datong is linked to many cities in China by bus, train, and airplane. The screen is located right at the geographic center of town, on the southern side of Da Dong Jie (“ East Street ”) just to the east of the city’s Drum Tower . It can be reached by the number 4 bus from the Datong Railway Station. Datong is the nearest large city to the Yungang Grottoes, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, and the Hanging Monastery, so a trip to the Nine Dragon Screen can easily be combined with visits to these other popular sights.

Last edited on Nov 2, 09 6:05 AM.
Contributors: Heather P. , Ilde M. Show History

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