ABSTRACT
When Li Shimin (Taizong) took it over in 621, Luoyang, in spite of its short existence, was already a complex city, with its palace area, government quarters, residential wards, three markets, gridiron street network within the city walls, and a vast parkland with its own palace complexes in the western suburb. Tang Luoyang was the successor to the Sui city, on the foundations of which it grew, matured, flourished, and declined. This chapter examines some of the physical aspects of the Tang city, paying particular regard to the key urban components and architectural landmarks, their functions, and evolution.
