If you could get your hands on something from The Longest Day in Chang’an, what would it be? A steaming bowl of lamb soup? A vibrant lantern from the Lantern Festival? Or perhaps, the Chang’an sand table that gets pulled out and examined by the Jing’an Bureau in a crucial moment?

In the series, the Chang’an sand table is portrayed as a miniature map of the city, helping the authorities monitor the pulse of the entire city—down to every street corner. This sand table is actually quite symbolic, much like the city of Chang’an itself.

Chang’an during the Tang Dynasty was a city that captured the imaginations of people far and wide. With no modern surveillance or GPS, managing a city as vast as Chang’an, covering 50 square kilometers, was no small feat. So, to make things more manageable, the rulers divided the city into a chessboard-like grid of 108 wards, each surrounded by walls with gates that opened at sunrise and closed at sunset. These wards functioned like self-contained mini-cities, each with its own rhythm and personality.

Take Pingkang Fang, for example—this was no ordinary ward. Known as Chang’an’s “red-light district,” it was where the elite gathered, seeking entertainment from the most talented courtesans of the city. If you’ve seen the film The King of the World, you’ve glimpsed Pingkang Fang in all its glory. The brothels were no sleazy hangouts. They featured boat rides, aerial acrobatics, and lush gardens, making them more luxurious than the fanciest mansions in town. Imagine having a personal boat ride while enjoying a drink—now that’s what I call a VIP experience!

But, like any dream, there was a darker side to this district. Despite their opulent surroundings, the women of Pingkang Fang had a tough life, trained from a young age in the arts of music and poetry, sometimes facing cruel punishment for the slightest mistake. Their lives were strictly controlled, and they were rarely allowed outside their ward. They were not just performers, they were also pawns in the political game. Wealthy and powerful men would mingle with the courtesans, forging relationships that could propel them into positions of power. In a way, Pingkang Fang was also a political hub, where alliances were formed and futures decided—all while sitting behind silk curtains.

Now, if you could take something from this world, would it be one of these high-class courtesans, the opulent brothel atmosphere, or perhaps a more practical object like the famous sand table that could bring you a bird’s-eye view of the entire city? I’d choose the sand table. It’s not just a piece of wood and miniature buildings; it represents control, strategy, and the ability to look at the whole picture—something I could definitely use in today’s world.

In the end, while Pingkang Fang was a place of allure and decadence, it was also a place of hardship and sacrifice. The courtesans may have lived in luxury, but it came at a cost. In the magical yet often brutal world of Tang Chang’an, beauty and power were always a double-edged sword.

So, what would you pick? A glimpse into a world of luxury or a piece of history that speaks to the delicate balance of power, control, and survival? The choice is yours!