RECENTLY, a group of history and culture scholars tried to uncover the 800-year history of the Han Dynasty in Qingdao.

    Mingtang was one of the most mysterious examples of architecture in ancient China, built by Emperor Wu for sacrificial ceremonies and government affairs management.

    Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized.

    Gong Shengqi, one of the scholars, considered it was wise for Emperor Wu to build Mingtang there because Nugu Mountain, where Mingtang is situated, is only around 60 meters above sea level.

    (Jane Lai, Li Wei)