Xi’an Huaqing Hot Spring

The Huaqing Hot Spring is located at the foothill of Mt. Lishan, about 35km east of the city of Xi'an.

The spring was a popular retreat for Emperors during the dynasties with more than 2500 years history. Today this is a favorite site for Chinese tourists. In fact, there is not a great deal to actually see here, but the history behind the area is very vivid and colorful.

The most romantic story that accompanies the history of the spring is that of Chinese equivalent of Romeo and Juliet; the story of Emperor Xuan Zong and his concubine Yang Guifei. Yang was a poor girl who the Emperor took a fancy to and promoted to the position of "Lady". Xuan Zong was so enamored by her beauty that it distracted him from his daily work. The Empire was being threatened and the courtiers threatened to kill the concubine, blaming her for the Emperor's mismanagement of his nation. Desperate and madly in love, Yang hung herself to save the country and her lover's name. The springs were renamed the Huaqing or "The Fair" springs, in honor of Yang Guifei's beauty.

back to Xian

• Terracotta Warriors and Horses
• Ancient City Wall
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Great Mosque
• Bell Tower
• Famen Temple
• Forest of Steles
• Mt. Huashan
• Farmers Cave Houses

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