The Tang dynasty is often considered the golden age of Chinese civilization. It was a cosmopolitan empire where different cultures and religions met along the Silk Road.
Legend says the Tang emperors were descendants of the founder of Taoism, Laozi. This era saw the height of Chinese poetry with masters like Li Bai and Du Fu.
The famous 'Journey to the West' (Sun Wukong) is based on the pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang to India during the Tang dynasty. Its capital, Chang'an, was the most populous and advanced city in the world at the time.