Xanadu was a real summer capital, not just a dream of a poet

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known in the West as Xanadu, Shangdu served as the legendary summer retreat for the Yuan dynasty. Designed by Liu Bingzhong, this site blended Mongolian nomadic heritage with sophisticated Chinese urban planning. While immortalized by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the city was a tangible center of power for Kublai Khan.

Established between 1252 and 1256, the city was originally named Kaiping before Kublai Khan renamed it Shangdu in 1264. Architect Liu Bingzhong, a former Buddhist monk and advisor to the Khan, crafted a layout that integrated Confucian principles with the traditions of the steppe. The city featured a distinct tripartite design, consisting of an outer perimeter, an inner enclosure, and a central imperial palace. This palace area spanned roughly 550 meters on each side, occupying about 40% of the footprint of the later Forbidden City in Beijing.

At its peak, the capital supported a population exceeding 100,000 people. It functioned as a vital political and ceremonial hub where the Khan managed court affairs and hosted foreign dignitaries. Marco Polo, who visited around 1275, described a magnificent marble palace adorned with gilded rooms and elaborate lacquer work. He also documented a unique, portable structure made of cane, which could be dismantled and transported wherever the Emperor traveled. These descriptions were later echoed by Samuel Purchas in the 17th century, eventually inspiring Samuel Taylor Coleridge to write his famous poem in 1797.

The city's prominence ended in 1369 when Ming forces sacked the site during the collapse of the Yuan dynasty. The court fled, leaving the capital to be abandoned and eventually scavenged for building materials by local residents of Dolon Nor. By 1872, when diplomat Steven Bushell visited, only remnants of marble and decorative tiles remained. Today, the site is recognized for its historical significance, having been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. Modern preservation efforts, which began in 2002, continue to protect the ruins, while a new railway connecting Beijing to the region is scheduled to open in 2026, ensuring future access to this once-gilded seat of imperial power.

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