Located at No. 038 Huaqing Road, Lintong District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, Huaqing Palace Scenic Area is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a key national cultural relic protection unit integrating natural landscapes and cultural history. The scenic area consists of Huaqing Pool and Lishan Mountain, with a total area of approximately 23,675,600 square meters (Huaqing Pool covers 85,600 square meters, and Lishan Mountain covers 23,590,000 square meters). Known for its hot spring resources, it has been a royal palace garden since the Qin Dynasty and reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty. The existing relics such as the Tang Imperial Bathing Site and the Xi'an Incident Site combine historical heritage with landscape scenery.
History and Culture
The history of Huaqing Palace can be traced back to the Pre-Qin period when Qin Shi Huang built the "Lishan Tang (Lishan Hot Spring)" here, initiating the precedent of royal hot spring palaces. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty expanded it into a palace garden. During the Tang Dynasty, after two large-scale constructions by Emperor Taizong and Emperor Xuanzong, it formed a pattern of "integrated palace and city." Emperor Xuanzong lived here for more than half a year annually, making Huaqing Palace a political center outside Chang'an (now Xi'an). Damaged during the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tianbao period, it was repaired in subsequent dynasties. The Huanyuan Garden (now Wujian Hall) was built in the Qing Dynasty, and it became an important historical witness due to the "Xi'an Incident" in modern times.
The Tang Imperial Bathing Site Museum in the scenic area displays the royal bathing pools of the Tang Dynasty (such as Yang Guifei's "Begonia Tang" and Emperor Xuanzong's "Lotus Tang"), confirming the luxurious life of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The Beacon Tower on Lishan Mountain carries the allusion of King You of Zhou "playing beacons to amuse nobles," symbolizing historical rise and fall.
Main Attractions
Tang Imperial Bathing Site Museum
The museum showcases the ruins of five major royal bathing pools from the Tang Dynasty, including Emperor Xuanzong's "Lotus Tang" (400 square meters, shaped like a stone lotus), Yang Guifei's "Begonia Tang" (25 square meters, shaped like a begonia flower), and Emperor Taizong's "Xingchen Tang (Star Tang)" (183 square meters, embodying the concept of "harmony between man and nature"). More than 3,000 cultural relics were unearthed from the site, making it the only place in China to centrally display the bathing culture of the Tang Dynasty royal family.
Xi'an Incident Site · Wujian Hall
Named after five connected halls, it was built in the late Qing Dynasty. In 1936, when Chiang Kai-shek resided here, the "Xi'an Incident" occurred, and bullet marks from the armed protest remain on the walls and glass windows. The interior displays are restored to their original appearance, showing the historical scenes before and after the incident. It is a key national cultural relic protection unit.
Jiulong Lake (Nine Dragons Lake)
An artificial lake built in 1959 with a total area of 530 square meters, divided into upper and lower lakes by the Jiulong Bridge (Nine Dragons Bridge). Tang-style buildings (Chenxiang Hall, Feishuang Hall, etc.) are built along the lake. At night, the large-scale live-action dance drama "The Everlasting Regret" is staged here, using the lake and mountain scenery as a backdrop to reproduce the love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei.
Lishan Beacon Tower
Located at the highest peak of the West Xiuling Ridge of Lishan Mountain (approximately 1,200 meters above sea level), it is the site of the allusion where King You of Zhou "played beacons to amuse nobles." The existing beacon tower is a Ming Dynasty building. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the scenic area and the Wei River, making it a landmark integrating historical culture and natural scenery.
Tang Liyuan (Pear Garden) Site Museum
The Tang Dynasty Liyuan site discovered in 1994 covers an area of about 1,500 square meters, displaying the remains of the royal music and dance institutions of the Tang Dynasty. The museum exhibits unearthed cultural relics such as pottery figurines and musical instrument fragments, serving as important physical materials for studying Tang Dynasty art and culture.
Food
Chengcheng Shui Pen Yang Rou (Chengcheng Basin Mutton)
A characteristic food of Chengcheng County, Shaanxi, known for its clear mutton soup and tender meat. The "Chengxian Laoge Shui Pen Yang Rou (Huaqing Yueronghui Branch)" near the scenic area is a popular choice. The soup is boiled with sheep bones for over 8 hours and served with crescent-shaped bread, costing about 35 RMB per person.
Biangbiang Noodles
A traditional Shaanxi wide noodle, about 50 cm long and 3 cm wide, served with various sauces such as tomato and egg or minced meat. Restaurants around the scenic area, such as "Lao Mi's Biangbiang Noodles," offer them at an average price of 20 RMB per bowl.
Youpo Mian (Oil-Splashed Noodles)
Handmade noodles are boiled, topped with chili powder and scallions, and then splashed with hot oil to release fragrance, resulting in chewy and spicy noodles. The Youpo Mian at "Qinyu Roujiamo" outside the scenic area is recommended, priced at 18 RMB per bowl, paired with Bingfeng soda for a local flavor.
Lintong Pomegranate Juice
Lintong is known as the "Hometown of Pomegranates." The fresh pomegranate juice in the scenic area uses local Huojing pomegranates, which are bright red, sweet, and tangy. Each cup costs about 15 RMB, making it a refreshing summer drink.
Tickets
Peak season (March 1 – November 30): 120 RMB/person;
Off-season (December 1 – February 28): 120 RMB/person (year-round uniform price).
Discounts: Free admission for seniors aged 65+, active-duty military personnel, and people with disabilities (with valid ID); half price (60 RMB/person) for minors under 18 and full-time undergraduate students and below (with student ID) (not applicable to graduate students and above).
Opening Hours
Peak season (March 1 – November 30): 7:00 – 19:00 (last entry at 18:00);
Off-season (December 1 – February 28): 7:30 – 18:00 (last entry at 17:00).
Performance time of "The Everlasting Regret": 20:10 – 21:20 (one show daily in peak season); off-season schedules need to be checked in advance with the scenic area.
Tour Routes
Classic route: Wangjing Gate Entrance → Furong Lake → Tang Imperial Bathing Site Museum (1 hour) → Xi'an Incident Exhibition Hall (30 minutes) → Wujian Hall (20 minutes) → Jiulong Lake (30 minutes) → Changsheng Hall (40 minutes, watching a 6D movie) → Zhaoyang Gate Exit → Lishan Cable Car (optional, take the cable car to the Beacon Tower, 1.5 hours of sightseeing). The whole journey takes about 4–5 hours, plus 2 hours if including Lishan Mountain.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Metro Line 9 to Huaqingchi Station (Exit C) and walk 5 minutes to the east gate of the scenic area.
- Bus: Take You 5 (306), 914, or 915 from the city to "Huaqingchi" station and walk 3 minutes to the scenic area.
- Self-driving: From downtown Xi'an, take the Lianhuo Expressway (G30) eastbound, exit at "Lintong," and follow Huaqing Road to the scenic area. Parking fees are about 10 RMB per day.
Must-See Attractions
- Tang Imperial Bathing Site Museum: The only Tang Dynasty royal bathing site in China, offering a glimpse into the historical scene of "bathing in Huaqing Pool on a spring day."
- Xi'an Incident Site · Wujian Hall: An important witness to modern history, with bullet marks and cultural relics restoring the incident scene.
- Jiulong Lake "The Everlasting Regret" Performance: A live-action historical dance drama on a landscape stage (tickets from 298 RMB, advance booking required).
- Lishan Beacon Tower: Climb to overlook the Guanzhong Plain and listen to the story of King You of Zhou playing beacons.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to visit Huaqing Pool in the morning and climb Lishan Mountain in the afternoon to avoid midday heat. If watching "The Everlasting Regret," enter the park in the evening to visit the night scenery first.
- Rent an electronic guide (30 RMB/unit) or hire a guide (100 RMB/group) to deeply understand the historical background.
- For Lishan Mountain, you can choose the cable car (one-way 60 RMB, round-trip 120 RMB). Walking up the mountain takes about 1.5 hours; wear non-slip shoes.
- Dining inside the scenic area is expensive. It is recommended to taste local food in Lintong urban area after leaving the park, such as Zenggao (steamed rice cake) and Liangpi (cold noodles) with Roujiamo (meat sandwich) at Beishi Cross Night Market.
Notes
- Many cultural relics and sites are in the scenic area; do not touch or climb them, and avoid using flash photography.
- The "The Everlasting Regret" performance is in an open-air theater; use mosquito repellent in summer and bring a coat in winter.
- Some sections of Lishan Mountain are steep; exercise caution when climbing in rainy or icy weather, and it is recommended to go in groups.
- Beware of unlicensed guides around the scenic area; book guiding services through official channels.
- Keep your ticket safe, as some attractions (such as Wujian Hall and Tang Imperial Bathing Site) require ticket verification for entry.