Han Family Princess Memorial Hall

📍 Address: No. 25 Jiangsu Road, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province
🏛️ Type: Historical and Cultural Memorial Hall
📅 Opening Hours: 9:00–17:00, Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays; holidays subject to separate notice)
🎫 Admission: Free entry (reservation required in advance)

🏺 Historical Origins

Located in the heart of ancient Nanjing, the Han Family Princess Memorial Hall stands on the site historically linked to the Eastern Wu Dynasty’s "Zhaoming Palace." According to records in the Book of Jin and local chronicles, this was once the resting place of Liu, a Han dynasty princess known as the “Han Family Princess,” who prepared for her marriage alliance with the Western Regions. Through the ritual of marriage diplomacy, she helped foster unity between Central China and the Western Regions. Her story is documented in the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government and the Book of the Later Han, where she is celebrated as a paragon of female envoys.

📌 Note: This memorial hall is not dedicated to a specific historical figure but is instead a comprehensive cultural exhibition space constructed based on the historical context of Han dynasty marriage alliances, integrating historical legends and archaeological research.

🏛️ Architectural Style

The memorial hall features traditional southern Jiangnan official-style architecture, centered around a three-part courtyard layout that blends Ming Dynasty administrative forms with Qing Dynasty garden elements. The main structure adopts a double-eaved hip roof design with blue-tiled roofs and white-walled walls, adorned with intricate carvings and painted beams. Majestic stone lions guard the entrance, while the plaque reading “Han Family Princess” was inscribed by a contemporary calligrapher. Within the compound, classical pavilions and winding corridors are complemented by plantings of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—the Four Gentlemen—creating an atmosphere of enduring ritual and harmony.

🖼️ Collections and Exhibitions

• Key Exhibits: Reproduction of the Han Dynasty Marriage Alliance Procession Scroll (a Song Dynasty copy), and replicas of Xinjiang-excavated Western Region silk fragments
• Interactive Displays: Immersive holographic theater titled “Journey Along the Silk Road”
• Thematic Exhibits: The Han Dynasty Marriage Alliance System and Ethnic Integration, The Role of Women in Ancient Diplomacy
• Digital Resources: Audio guide system and AR-enabled artifact identification

✅ All exhibits have been reviewed by cultural heritage experts; some are reproductions of national first-class cultural relics.

🌟 Cultural Significance

The memorial hall serves as a vital platform for the national intangible cultural heritage “Marriage Alliance Culture,” having been selected for three consecutive years as a “National Outstanding Historical and Cultural Exhibition Project.” Through a blend of historical storytelling and artistic presentation, it embodies the inclusive spirit of Chinese civilization—“harmony without uniformity”—holding significant academic and public educational value.

🚶 Travel Tips

• 📍 Nearby Transportation: 800 meters from Dazhong Bridge Station on Metro Line 3; bus lines 1 and 26 stop at Jiangsu Road Station
• 🍽️ Nearby Dining: Confucius Temple Snack Street (approximately 1.2 km away)
• 📸 Recommended Photo Spots: Main Hall’s moon platform, courtyard water screen wall, Han-style long corridor

⭐ Suggested Visit Duration: 1.5 hours. Can be combined with a visit to the Confucius Temple scenic area.