Datang Furong Garden is located at No. 99 Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Yanta District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. It is China's first large-scale cultural theme park featuring royal garden-style architecture, centered on Xi'an's glorious history as the "Capital of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty." The park integrates the essence of Tang Dynasty historical landscapes, vividly interpreting and comprehensively recreating the splendid culture of the Tang Dynasty through modern high-tech means and diverse programs, covering architecture, cuisine, dance, music, folklore, and more. The architectural design of the park was completed by Zhang Jinqiu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, while the landscape design was created by Japanese designer Hiroshi Akiyama. The park covers an area of 1,000 acres, including 300 acres of water.
Historical and Cultural Background
The site of Datang Furong Garden, Qujiang, served as a royal forbidden garden from the Qin and Han dynasties through the Sui and Tang periods. During the Qin Dynasty, it was called the "Yichun Garden." In the Sui Dynasty, the royal forbidden garden was expanded around Qujiang Pond, with abundant lotus plantings, leading to its renaming as "Furong Pond" (Lotus Pond), becoming the imperial garden of the capital. During the Tang Dynasty, Furong Pond was transformed into a royal forbidden garden and renamed "Furong Garden," serving as a leisure and entertainment venue for the imperial family. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang further constructed the Jia City Wall and Ziyun Tower, making "the emperor's visits to Furong Garden" a regular recreational activity. During the Qujiang Grand Gatherings, royal nobles and commoners would gather at Qujiang.
Main Attractions
Ziyun Tower
Located at the center of the park, Ziyun Tower is the landmark building of Datang Furong Garden, redesigned at a 1:1 scale based on historical records. The structure features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, with the main tower standing 39 meters tall across four floors and covering a construction area of 8,632 square meters, making it the largest group of reconstructed historical buildings in China. The first floor showcases the prosperity of the Zhenguan Era, the second floor displays the Kaiyuan Prosperity, the third floor hosts periodic performances of Dongcang Drum Music, and the fourth floor houses the Tang Dynasty Museum.
Caixia Long Corridor
Composed of the Golden Pavilion, Jade Pavilion, and a long corridor, the Caixia Long Corridor stretches 270 meters in length. The "Hundred Beauties" porcelain plates feature paintings on the front and poems on the back, forming a cultural story corridor that reflects the lives of Tang Dynasty women. It is also the best spot to enjoy the views of Furong Lake and the distant Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Luyu Tea House
Named after the Tang Dynasty "Tea Sage" Lu Yu, the tea house covers an area of 1,310 square meters and adopts a traditional Chinese courtyard-style Tang Dynasty garden architecture. It is a tea house combining tea ceremony performances and leisure tea tasting, with surrounding displays of replica models of tea sets excavated from the Famen Temple underground palace in 1987.
Qiting Pavilion
Forming the central axis of the park alongside Ziyun Tower and the Fenghuang Jiutian Theater across the lake, the pavilion's surrounding wall reliefs are inspired by the story of "Qiting Painting on the Wall." The fan-shaped scenic square nearby features numerous musical instruments, harmonizing with the pavilion's reliefs.
Xingyuan Garden
Preserving ancient culture, the garden showcases imperial examination culture, including the "Jinshi Tanhua" (top scholars), "Xingyuan Banquet," and "Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Inscription," through artifacts, literature, murals, and sculptures. A pond to the south reflects the apricot trees, allowing visitors to emulate the scholars' tradition of making wishes.
Ladies' Hall
Centered around the Wangchun Pavilion, this Tang-style architectural complex is dedicated to Tang Dynasty women's culture. The hall recreates the lives of Tang women through exhibits on clothing, emotions, political participation, sports, and more, using small-scale landscapes.
Tang Market
Covering an area of over 12,000 square meters, the Tang Market is divided into a bazaar and an opera house square. It is a microcosm of Tang Dynasty commercial activities, serving as a multifunctional cultural street that combines entertainment, learning, cultural dissemination, and shopping.
Cuisine
Zeng Cake
A soft and delicate Xi'an specialty made from glutinous rice, kidney beans, and red dates, steamed to release a fragrant aroma with a sticky, sweet taste.
Crispy Pancake
A crispy traditional Shaanxi pastry available in various flavors.
Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb or Beef Soup
Meticulously prepared with tender meat, rich broth, and chewy bread, this dish is flavorful, nutritious, and believed to have medicinal benefits.
Biangbiang Noodles
Made from high-quality flour, these noodles are known for their sour, spicy, and savory taste, representing authentic Shaanxi-style cuisine.
Eight-Treasure Sweet Rice
A delicacy served at Shaanxi banquets, especially during the Spring Festival, featuring a blend of colors, aromas, and flavors, with melted brown sugar adding a unique taste.
Ticket Information
Adult tickets cost 120 yuan per person, while child tickets are 60 yuan. Children aged 6 (inclusive) or under 1.2 meters (inclusive) enter for free. Minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive) and full-time undergraduate students or below enjoy half-price discounts. Veterans with the "People's Republic of China Veteran Preferential Treatment Certificate" are eligible for a maximum 50% discount on the first admission ticket.
Opening Hours
The park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with last entry at 9:00 PM.
Recommended Itinerary
It is recommended to enter through the West Gate (Imperial Garden Gate) around 5 or 6 PM. First, visit Ziyun Tower to experience imperial grandeur, then proceed to the Ladies' Hall to learn about Tang Dynasty women's culture. Next, watch performances like "Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty" at the Fenghuang Jiutian Theater. Afterward, stroll around Furong Lake to admire the pavilions and towers, relax at Luyu Tea House, and explore Xingyuan Garden to immerse in imperial examination culture.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Xi'an Metro Line 4 and alight at Datang Furong Garden Station.
- Bus: For the South Gate, take buses 22, 24, or 146; for the West Gate, take buses 21 or 601; for the East Gate, take buses 22, 23, or 24.
- Driving or Taxi: Navigate to the scenic area, where parking is available.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Ziyun Tower: The iconic structure of Datang Furong Garden, offering panoramic views and performances like Dongcang Drum Music, allowing visitors to experience Tang imperial grandeur.
- Ladies' Hall: A comprehensive display of Tang Dynasty women's lives through architecture and landscapes.
- Fenghuang Jiutian Theater: Watch the large-scale multidimensional dance drama "Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty" to experience the magnificence of Tang culture.
- Tang Market: Immerse in Tang folk culture and commercial ambiance, with opportunities for shopping and entertainment.
Travel Tips
- Book tickets online in advance to avoid queues.
- Wearing Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) enhances the experience and makes for better photos.
- Check performance schedules in advance to plan your visit accordingly.
- Comfortable footwear is recommended due to the park's large size.
- Sun protection is advised during summer visits.
Precautions
- Tickets and annual passes are non-transferable.
- Pets, fishing gear, camping equipment, and other prohibited items are not allowed.
- Commercial activities are forbidden; only cameras are permitted for photography.
- Uncivilized or dangerous behaviors such as occupying pathways, trespassing, climbing, or making excessive noise are prohibited.
- Elderly, children, disabled, or pregnant visitors using wheelchairs or strollers must be accompanied; other mobility devices are not permitted.