Xuzhou 徐州市 — Hometown of Han Dynasty Culture
Xuzhou is one of China's oldest cities, with over 2,600 years of recorded history. It was the hometown of Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty, and the city is deeply associated with Han Dynasty culture.
The area around Xuzhou contains hundreds of Han Dynasty tombs, many with remarkably well-preserved artifacts. The Xuzhou Museum houses one of China's finest collections of Han Dynasty jade and bronze.
Xuzhou sits at the junction of several major railways and highways, making it one of China's most important transportation hubs. The city is also known for its heavy industry and hearty cuisine.
The museum houses one of China's most important Han Dynasty collections, including jade burial suits, bronze vessels, and the famous stone relief carvings (画像石). The stone carvings depict daily life, mythology, and historical events from the Han Dynasty — a visual encyclopedia of 2,000-year-old Chinese civilization.
Hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed Mon)
Admission: Free (bring ID)
The tomb of a Chu Kingdom king from the Western Han Dynasty, carved entirely into a mountain. The tomb's excavation revealed over 2,000 artifacts including gold, jade, and silver items. The adjacent Han Culture Scenic Area includes a terracotta army and replicas.
Hours: 8:30–17:30
Admission: ¥80 (combo)
Xuzhou's largest urban lake surrounded by parks, walking paths, and the 142-meter Cloud Dragon Mountain. The Xinghua Temple on the mountain was visited by Emperor Qianlong multiple times. The lake area is popular for boating and evening strolls.
Hours: 全天开放
Admission: Free
A remarkably preserved husband-and-wife tomb from the Western Han Dynasty, cut into a mountain with extraordinary precision. The tomb passages are aligned almost perfectly north-south with only a tiny deviation — a feat of ancient engineering.
Hours: 8:30–17:30
Admission: ¥50