The archaeoastronomy and feng shui of Xanadu: Kublai Khan’s imperial Mongolian capital

Xanadu, Kublai Khan's imperial summer capital during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), was designed with feng-shui principles that harmonized it with natural forces. A key discovery reveals that celestial alignments played a significant role in achieving this harmony, integrating visible and invisible elements of earth, sky, and water. The study combines archaeoastronomy and feng shui analysis to demonstrate how Xanadu's layout reflected sophisticated understanding of cosmic and terrestrial dynamics, offering new insights into the architectural and cultural sophistication of Mongolian imperial design.

Romain, W. F. (2017). The archaeoastronomy and feng shui of Xanadu: Kublai Khan’s imperial Mongolian capital. Time and Mind, 10(2), 145–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/1751696x.2017.1310567