Visit Huaqing Palace: The Silk Road’s Secret Hot Springs Loved by Yang Guifei – Tang Culture & Xi’an Travel Experience

Xi’an means the Terracotta Army. It’s one of the World Heritage sites that many international travelers invariably include on their must-visit list when traveling to China. However, did you know that right near the Terracotta Army lies a fascinating spot where history and hot springs intertwine – “Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Gong)”?

This place, relatively unknown internationally, was once a romantic palace where Tang Dynasty’s Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei nurtured their love, and it’s also a hidden hot spring where Silk Road history lives on. Today, we’ll introduce the charms of Huaqing Palace, a hidden gem of Xi’an tourism, and efficient sightseeing plans.

What is Huaqing Palace? History and Overview

Huaqing Palace is an ancient imperial villa located at the foot of Mount Li, east of Xi’an city. Known since ancient times as a place where hot springs emerge, successive emperors built villas here from the time of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. However, it became most famous during the Tang Dynasty when Emperor Xuanzong conducted major renovations for Yang Guifei and spent winters here annually.

The tragic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei is famous internationally as “Song of Everlasting Sorrow.” Huaqing Palace was the stage for their love story. The palace name “Huaqing” means “beautiful and pure,” said to represent the beauty of Yang Guifei, beloved by the emperor.

It’s also an important site in modern history, serving as the stage for the “Xi’an Incident” in 1936, when Chiang Kai-shek was detained by Zhang Xueliang and others.

Access: Efficient Tourism Combined with the Terracotta Army

Access to Huaqing Palace is very convenient. Take Metro Line 8 from downtown Xi’an and get off at “Huaqing Chi” station, then walk about 5 minutes to arrive. The metro costs only about 9 yuan (approximately $1.25) one way, making it very affordable.

Here’s the key point! After touring Huaqing Palace, you can take a taxi from the entrance for about 15 minutes (around 30 yuan) to reach the Terracotta Army Museum. This order of sightseeing is smoother than going from the Terracotta Army to Huaqing Palace. Since many tourists head to the Terracotta Army first thing in the morning, visiting Huaqing Palace first helps avoid crowds.

For efficiently touring these two World Heritage sites in one day, the best route is: Metro → Huaqing Palace → Taxi → Terracotta Army → Bus or taxi back to the city. This saves both time and transportation costs.

Additionally, those with time shouldn’t miss the cultural performances at Huaqing Palace. Particularly, the outdoor drama “Song of Everlasting Sorrow” is a wonderful performance that brings Tang Dynasty stories to life with sound and light effects and grand stage sets. Many tours covering both the Terracotta Army and Huaqing Palace in one day are available, so those concerned about language barriers might consider joining a tour.

Highlights of Huaqing Palace

Huaqing Palace is a famous tourist area themed around Tang culture, with several characteristic spots. Here are the main highlights:

1. Historic Hot Spring Pools

Huaqing Palace is famous for its hot springs, and several historic bathhouse ruins can be visited. These include the “Lotus Pool” where Tang Emperor Xuanzong is said to have bathed, the “Star Pool” where Tang Emperor Taizong Li Shimin bathed, and the “Prince Bath” where princes reportedly bathed.

Each of these hot spring pools has a distinctive shape, particularly the “Haitang Bath,” said to have been used by Yang Guifei, which was built in the shape of a begonia flower. When visiting, it’s interesting to contemplate how these baths were actually used and the bathing culture of that era.

2. Tang Imperial Hot Spring Site Museum

The “Tang Imperial Hot Spring Site Museum,” China’s only museum themed around imperial hot spring bathhouses, is not to be missed. Here, the imperial bathing culture of the prosperous Tang period is displayed, where you can see remains of bathhouses, water supply and drainage systems, and heating facilities from that time.

Through artifacts and reconstructed models, the museum teaches about the advanced bathing culture and technology from over 1,300 years ago. You can understand that hot springs weren’t merely bathing facilities but important cultural elements symbolizing imperial authority and Tang Dynasty prosperity.

3. Nine Dragon Lake

“Nine Dragon Lake,” named for its nine dragon heads, is also an important feng shui location at Huaqing Palace. The lakeside houses a “Treasure Hall” where cultural artifacts from ancient times can be appreciated. Water flowing from the nine dragon mouths is said to symbolize imperial authority and prosperity.

Surrounding the lake are walking paths incorporating ancient Chinese garden styles, where you can stroll while enjoying the beautiful scenery at the foot of Mount Li.

4. Xi’an Incident Ruins

Huaqing Palace was also the stage for the “Xi’an Incident” that occurred in 1936. You can visit ruins related to this historic event, including the “Remonstrance Pavilion” and “Beacon Tower.”

The “Five-Room Hall” where Chiang Kai-shek was detained and the place where he fell while trying to escape through a window are preserved, allowing visitors to learn about important turning points in modern Chinese history. Exhibitions recreating the situation at that time are also substantial, providing insight into the historical background of how the anti-Japanese united front was formed through this incident.

Experience the Hot Springs Yang Guifei Loved

The greatest attraction of Huaqing Palace is definitely the hot springs! Within the grounds is the “Huaqing Pool Hot Spring Resort Hotel,” where you can actually bathe in hot springs from the same source as Yang Guifei. These hot springs are also called “Zhuyan Tang (Youth-Preserving Hot Springs)” and are precious spring waters that have been flowing continuously for over 1,300 years.

The hot spring source emerges from Mount Li containing mineral components and is said to have various beneficial effects. It’s particularly excellent for skin beauty, with legends that Yang Guifei maintained her beauty through these hot springs. This experience of “bathing with Yang Guifei across time” is especially popular with female travelers.

The hot spring facilities include large public baths called “Imperial Baths” as well as private rooms for a more intimate experience. The private baths are decorated in Tang Dynasty court style, allowing you to feel the atmosphere of that era.

Hotel accommodation plans often include hot spring bathing, and staying overnight allows you to enjoy the hot springs during quiet morning and evening hours. Day trips are also possible, with hot spring bathing tickets starting from about 200 yuan (approximately $28), though prices vary by season.

Huaqing Palace offers not only hot springs but also various cultural experience events. Recently, free courses in intangible cultural heritage experiences have been offered, including stone rubbing (taking rubbings from stone inscriptions), woodblock New Year paintings, and plant dyeing using grass and trees. Through these experiences, you can feel the depth and warmth of China’s excellent traditional culture.

During Spring Festival periods, themed events like “Dragon Advances Majestically, Where Dragons Exist, There is Spirit” are held, with free admission for visitors born in dragon years and various dragon-related experience events such as Tang palace poetry competitions and lucky arrow throwing games.

Restaurants within the hot spring facilities serve court cuisine that emperors and Yang Guifei reportedly favored during the Tang Dynasty. Why not re-experience the elegant times of ancient emperors and imperial consorts through hot springs and fine cuisine?

Best Season to Visit

Huaqing Palace can be visited year-round, but spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are particularly recommended. Summer should be avoided due to Xi’an’s characteristic intense heat, which makes hot spring enjoyment less comfortable.

Winter visits are also good. Cold weather is when you can truly appreciate hot springs, and historically, Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei spent winters here. Snow-covered Huaqing Palace makes for excellent photography.

Conclusion

While often overshadowed by the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace is an attractive tourist destination where history, hot springs, and tragic love stories intersect. By cleverly combining metro and taxi transportation, you can efficiently tour it together with the Terracotta Army.

Soaking in hot springs beloved by Yang Guifei, considered the most beautiful woman in Chinese history, while contemplating romance from 1,300 years ago – this experience of feeling Silk Road history through your skin is a hidden highlight of Xi’an travel.

The luxury of relaxing in hot springs used by Yang Guifei in a distant foreign land – please visit Huaqing Palace on your next Xi’an trip. It’s sure to become an unforgettable memory.