The historic Gefeng Terrace in Pei County, Xuzhou — a hidden jewel of Chinese history

【CMHnews Post】Located by Weishan Lake in northern Jiangsu Province, Pei County is best known as the hometown of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty. For over two thousand years, it has carried the title: “The land where dragons rise, and where emperors and great names are born.”

     More than 2,000 years ago, Liu Bang led an uprising that overthrew the previous dynasty with only three thousand men from Pei County, and then established the mighty Han Empire — one of the first truly stable and flourishing eras in ancient China.

     Over time, the word “Han” gradually became the defining identity of Chinese civilization itself: the people became known as the Han nation, the language as Han characters, and the culture as Han culture. In gratitude for the support of his hometown during the founding of the empire, Emperor Liu Bang later exempted the people of Pei County from taxes and labor duties for the following generations.

     The historic Gefeng Terrace was built in memory of the emperor and commemorates the legendary moment when Liu Bang returned home victorious, singing the famous poem “The Song of the Great Wind.” Standing 26.8 meters tall, it is honored as “The First Terrace of China.”

     Drawing on its rich cultural heritage, Pei County established its museum in 1985, now home to more than 3,000 Han Dynasty artifacts that offer valuable insight into Han culture and the region’s deep historical roots.

（Suri）