Inside the "Chinese Rome" You've Never Heard Of

They call this city the "Rome of the East," but the history here was hacked by the most ruthless woman to ever rule China. 🔴 NEW: Become a Pasta&Panda Patron:   / pastaandpanda  . We just launched our Patreon to show you the reality behind the lens and give you exclusive perks and access. By joining, you are helping us fund the next deep dive. Click the link to join the family and keep independent content alive! ☝️ In this episode, we're heading to Luoyang, the forgotten twin capital of the ancient world. What starts as a search for the "Chinese Rome" turns into an investigation into Empress Wu Zetian: the only female Emperor in Chinese history. We uncover how she used the massive Longmen Grottoes for political propaganda and to raise to power. From eating 1,000-year-old recipes (that taste... interesting) to exploring the underground Ancient Tombs Museum, and finally visiting the controversial "Fake Ancient Town" taken over by Hanfu influencers, this is the complete story of China’s lost capital. 📺 Chapters: 00:00 - Rome's Twin 03:16 - Luoyangs Tombs 04:23 - Fake Ancient Town 05:37 - Luoyang's Food 09:25 - The First Buddhist Temple 14:40 - Incredible Grottoes ▶️ Watch our Playlist - China Chronicles:    • Playlist