Explore the real-world places that appear in Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Shanghai, The Great Wall, The Terracotta Army, Diyu (The Underworld), Penglai Island and 8 more.
Zachary's home city and the story's launching point
Zachary Ying lives in Shanghai with his mother, a Chinese immigrant raising him in a modern urban environment. It is here that Zachary first encounters the AR headset that allows the spirit of Qin Shi Huang to possess him. The city represents Zachary's ordinary world before the mythological adventure sweeps him away.
Shanghai grew from a small fishing village into one of the world's most important trading ports during the 19th century, shaped heavily by European colonial concessions. It became a global financial hub and cultural crossroads, earning the nickname 'Paris of the East' in the early 20th century.
Shanghai is China's largest city and a global financial and cultural center, home to over 24 million people. The iconic Bund waterfront and the futuristic Pudong skyline define its silhouette. It remains one of the most visited cities in Asia.
Ancient barrier sealing demons from the mortal world
The Great Wall appears as both a historical marvel and a mythological barrier in the story, tied directly to Qin Shi Huang's legacy. The emperor originally built the wall not only to keep out human invaders but also to seal away supernatural threats. Zachary and his companions must interact with its spirit-realm counterpart to prevent demons from breaking through.
The Great Wall of China was built and expanded over many centuries, with the most famous sections constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Qin Shi Huang is credited with connecting earlier walls into a unified barrier during the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE). It stretches over 13,000 miles across northern China.
The Badaling section near Beijing is the most visited stretch of the Great Wall, receiving millions of tourists annually. It has been restored and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A museum and cable car system make it accessible to visitors from around the world.
Qin Shi Huang's supernatural clay soldiers awakened
The Terracotta Army is a pivotal location where Qin Shi Huang's ancient clay soldiers are awakened as supernatural warriors. Zachary and his friends must navigate the spirit-realm version of the tomb complex, confronting the emperor's buried power. The site crackles with the accumulated spiritual energy of the First Emperor's reign.
Discovered in 1974 by local farmers near Xi'an, the Terracotta Army consists of over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 210–209 BCE. The mausoleum complex covers approximately 56 square kilometers. The main tomb mound itself has never been fully excavated.
The Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses is one of China's most visited attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three excavation pits are open to visitors, with ongoing archaeological work revealing new figures. The site draws millions of tourists annually and is considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
The Chinese mythological realm of the dead
Diyu is the Chinese underworld where Zachary and his companions must venture to recover the crucial soul artifact. The realm is ruled by Yanluo Wang and his ten judges, who preside over the punishments of the dead. The heroes navigate terrifying spirit courts and supernatural obstacles to fulfill their quest.
Diyu as a concept developed from ancient Chinese folk religion, Taoism, and later Buddhist influences, evolving into an elaborate bureaucratic afterlife mirroring imperial Chinese governance. Ancient texts like the Songs of the South reference early underworld concepts, while later Tang and Song dynasty literature expanded the ten courts of hell mythology. Hunan Province's Chu culture produced some of the earliest literary descriptions of the spirit world.
Hunan Province is known for its spicy cuisine, revolutionary history, and stunning natural scenery including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which inspired the floating mountains of Avatar. Several temples and folk religion sites in the region still honor Yanluo Wang and underworld deities. The province remains deeply connected to ancient Chinese spiritual traditions.
The mythological isle of immortals in the Bohai Sea
Penglai Island is one of the legendary Three Islands of the Immortals that Qin Shi Huang historically sought, and it figures in the novel as a spirit-realm destination. The island holds divine secrets and powerful artifacts connected to immortality magic. Zachary must navigate the island's mythological inhabitants and traps to advance his quest.
Penglai is one of the three mythological islands of the immortals (Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou) referenced in ancient Chinese texts including the Shiji by Sima Qian. Qin Shi Huang historically sent expeditions to find these islands, most famously dispatching Xu Fu with thousands of men and women to seek the elixir of immortality. The modern city of Penglai in Shandong Province has been associated with these legends for over 2,000 years.
The Penglai Pavilion scenic area in Shandong is a major tourist destination featuring ancient temples, sea mist phenomena called 'Penglai mirage,' and museums dedicated to the immortality legends. The site is a National AAAA-level scenic area. Visitors can tour Tang and Song dynasty pavilions overlooking the Bohai Sea.
Sacred cradle of Chinese civilization and spiritual power
The Yellow River appears in the novel as a source of immense mythological power, home to river dragons and serving as a conduit between the mortal and spirit realms. Characters must cross or bargain with the river's supernatural guardians at key moments. The river's flooding mythology connects directly to the ancient hero Yu the Great.
The Yellow River is often called 'the Mother River of China' and is the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization, with settlements along its banks dating back 7,000 years. It has historically been one of the most flood-prone rivers in the world, earning the nickname 'China's Sorrow.' Yu the Great's legendary taming of the Yellow River floods is one of the founding myths of Chinese civilization.
The Yellow River flows 5,464 kilometers through nine provinces and is a critical water source for northern China. The Hukou Waterfall on the Shaanxi-Shanxi border is one of China's most spectacular waterfalls and a major tourist attraction. Conservation efforts are ongoing to address erosion, pollution, and water scarcity along the river.
Sacred mountain where emperors communed with Heaven
Mount Tai is where Qin Shi Huang's spirit retains a powerful divine connection, having performed the sacred Feng sacrifices here in life to legitimize his rule. Zachary must ascend the mountain's spirit-realm counterpart to access celestial powers. The mountain is guarded by divine sentinels who test those seeking to commune with Heaven.
Mount Tai has been a sacred pilgrimage site for over 3,000 years and is the easternmost of China's Five Sacred Mountains. Qin Shi Huang himself climbed Mount Tai after unifying China in 219 BCE and performed the Feng and Shan ceremonies, inscribing a stele that proclaimed his achievements to Heaven. Over 72 emperors are recorded to have made sacrifices at Mount Tai.
Mount Tai is a UNESCO World Heritage Site combining natural and cultural heritage, featuring 6,293 stone steps leading to the summit at 1,545 meters. The mountain draws millions of pilgrims and tourists annually, many climbing through the night to watch the famous sunrise. Dozens of temples, ancient inscriptions, and pavilions line the pilgrimage route.
Underwater realm of the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas
The Dragon Palace is a spectacular underwater spirit-realm location where Zachary and companions must negotiate with the Dragon Kings to obtain a powerful artifact. The palace is a labyrinthine complex of coral, jade, and enchanted sea-materials guarded by sea dragon soldiers. The Dragon Kings themselves are ancient, powerful, and politically complex figures with their own agendas.
The South China Sea has been central to Chinese maritime culture, trade, and mythology for millennia. Hong Kong's harbor was a major trading hub from the Tang Dynasty onward, and the Pearl River Delta civilization dates back thousands of years. Dragon King worship was practiced by fishermen throughout the South China coast, with temples dedicated to Longwang found in every coastal community.
Hong Kong is a vibrant global city and Special Administrative Region of China, known for its dramatic harbor skyline, dense urban environment, and blend of Eastern and Western cultures. The region's fishing communities still maintain folk religion traditions honoring sea deities. Numerous Dragon King temples can be found across Hong Kong's outlying islands.
Sacred lake tied to the Black Tortoise of the North
Xuanwu Lake appears as a portal site where the spirit of the Black Tortoise — one of the Four Divine Beasts — manifests. The heroes must seek the Tortoise's blessing or wisdom at a critical juncture in their quest. The lake's calm surface conceals tremendous spiritual depth and power.
Xuanwu Lake in Nanjing is one of China's largest urban lakes and has been a cultural landmark since the Six Dynasties period (3rd–6th centuries CE). Emperor Liu Yu of the Liu Song dynasty held naval reviews here. The lake's name references the Black Tortoise constellation of northern Chinese astronomy and its associated divine beast.
Xuanwu Lake is a major public park in Nanjing, surrounded by the Ming Dynasty city walls and featuring five islets connected by causeways. It is a beloved green space for residents and tourists alike. The adjacent Jiangsu Provincial Art Museum and historic sites make it a cultural hub.
Sacred Taoist peaks where immortals train
The Wudang Mountains appear as a refuge and training ground where characters seek guidance from Taoist immortals still inhabiting the peak temples. The mountains serve as neutral spiritual territory that even the most powerful supernatural beings respect. A crucial piece of mythological knowledge is unlocked here.
The Wudang Mountains have been a Taoist sacred site since at least the Tang Dynasty, but rose to supreme importance under the Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle, who constructed an enormous complex of temples and palaces there between 1412 and 1423. The mountains are associated with Xuanwu (Zhenwu), the Perfect Warrior deity. Wudang is also the legendary birthplace of Taijiquan (Tai Chi).
The Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 72 peaks and eight palaces. Thousands of Taoist monks and martial arts students still practice there. The mountains draw pilgrims, tourists, and martial arts enthusiasts from around the world.
Heart of imperial China and its spiritual power
The Forbidden City's spirit-realm counterpart serves as a staging ground for confrontations between supernatural factions vying for control of China's imperial spiritual legacy. The palace complex in the spirit realm still houses the accumulated power of every dynasty that ruled from Beijing. Zachary must navigate its bureaucratic spirit courts to reach his ultimate goal.
The Forbidden City was constructed between 1406 and 1420 under the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and served as the Chinese imperial palace for 500 years until 1912. It consists of 980 buildings across 72 hectares and was designed according to strict cosmological and geomantic principles. Over a million workers were involved in its construction.
Now called the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City is the world's most visited museum, receiving over 19 million visitors annually. It houses over 1.8 million imperial artifacts spanning 5,000 years of Chinese history. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and China's most iconic landmark.
The mythological axis mundi and home of the Queen Mother of the West
The Kunlun Mountains represent the ultimate divine authority in the novel's cosmological structure, home to the Queen Mother of the West and her peaches of immortality. Zachary's quest ultimately connects to the powers that reside on Kunlun. The mountains serve as the mythological backdrop against which the entire spirit-realm conflict is judged.
The physical Kunlun Range stretches over 3,000 kilometers through western China and contains some of the highest peaks on the Tibetan Plateau. In Chinese mythology dating back to the Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), Kunlun is the home of Xiwangmu and a paradise of immortals. The range forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and has been sacred to multiple cultures across millennia.
The Kunlun Mountains are a remote and largely inaccessible range containing glaciers, high-altitude deserts, and extraordinary wildlife. The region includes the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting the Tibetan antelope. Few tourists venture into the range's interior, preserving its wild, mythological atmosphere.
Enchanted lake of ancient legends and romance
West Lake appears as a hauntingly beautiful spirit-realm location where ancient mythological beings have been trapped or are waiting. The lake's legendary associations provide Zachary and companions with crucial mythological clues. Its enchanted waters reveal reflections of the spirit world to those who know how to look.
West Lake has been celebrated in Chinese poetry, painting, and literature for over a thousand years, with Su Dongpo's causeway construction during the Song Dynasty being one of its most famous historical events. The lake became the subject of the Legend of the White Snake, one of China's four great folk tales. Marco Polo described Hangzhou as 'the most magnificent city in the world' during his 13th-century visit.
West Lake and its surrounding cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's most visited scenic areas. The lake is ringed by pagodas, temples, tea plantations, and classical gardens. Hangzhou has grown into a major technology hub — home to Alibaba — while preserving the lake's timeless beauty.
More by Xiran Jay Zhao: All Xiran Jay Zhao books