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Huaqing Hot Spring

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At the foot of Mount.Li and 30 km from the historic city Xi'an, Huaqing Hot Springs – also called Huaqing Palace – has been a famous hot spring resort for centuries. Lying close to the capital Xi'an, with the charming scenery of Lishan as a backdrop, the natural hot springs has held great attraction for the emperors who set their capital in the northwest China province of Shaanxi. Since the Zhou dynasty, a series of feudal rulers of Qin, Han, Sui, Tang and other short-lived dynasties took this well-sited place as their temporary palace. Huanqing Pool also served as an ideal place for the poets and scholars to compose their masterpieces. Thus it has been an integral part of Chinese culture throughout the ages; in any historical period we can find a lot of Chinese literature that has something to do with the Huaqing Hot Springs place.

The history of the Huaqing Hot Springs dates back to clan society, when primitive Chinese tribes established their villages there. In A.D. 644, the Tang dynasty ruler Li Shimen ordered the construction of Tangqian Palace on the very site of the current Huaqing Hot Springs. When the construction was completed, he held a magnificent ceremony in celebration. In 747, when his grandson Xuanzong ascended the throne of the Tang dynasty, the palace was enlarged and renamed Huanqing Palace. The palace design was based on the Chinese traditional palace building theories. The Huaqing Hot Springs made rational and efficient use of the hot spring, while reflecting the layout of an imperial palace.

Huanqing Palace also witnessed the famous romance of emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Guifei. According to historical records, during the 10 years from 745 to 755, the emperor brought his concubine and his high-ranking officials to the Huaqing Palace in October, and only returned to his capital palace in the spring of each following year. During that period, all domestic and diplomatic affairs of state were handled at Huaqing Palace, which thus began to flourish as an important political center. However, in 755 two generals rose up against their emperor, bringing great damage to the whole country and especially to the capital and to Huaqing Palace, which declined from its former importance as temporary palace. Following the collapse of the Tang dynasty, Huaqing Palace lost its special status. After the foundation of new China, it has been rebuilt several times, and now after many years the ancient pool has recovered its charm and attracts more and more visitors annually.

Tour with concubine Yang Guifei's company

The new tour project was marketed in 1999. It resurrects the luxurious palace life of the Tang dynasty ruler Xianzong and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Huaqing Hot Springs, and offers an excellent opportunity for visitors to satisfy their curiosity and fulfill their dreams by experiencing the luxurious life of an emperor or his high status lady.

Location:

No.38, Huanqing Road, Lingtong District, Xi,an.

Ticket Price:

Entrance Ticket Price:peak period(March 1-November 31): 110 yuan/person; off season(December 1-February 28): 80 yuan/person.

Opening Time:

Peak period:7:00-18:00; Off season: 7:30-18:30

How to get there:

Take No.307 bus in the Xi'an railway station, the buses run daily at intervals of 10 minutes. Bus No.914,915 and sightseeing bus No. 5 can also get there.

Tips:

1. Tel：029－83818069
2. From Huaqing Pool, one can overlook Lishan mountains and Bingjian pavilion (a place in memory the Xi'an Incident of December 12, 1936, when generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng ordered their soldiers to arrested their president to persuade the leader to unite the whole country to fight against the Japanese invasion.)
3. For a small fee of 0.5 Yuan, one can wash their hands with hot spring water.
4. A ticket entitles the holder to a free memorial photo; don't forget to pack it with the ticket in the back side!
5. The tour of Huaqing Pool is pleasant in all seasons, but if one visits it during April or Oct., the mild climate and the good weather will make your tour more wonderful.