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Huaqing Hot Spring

发表日期：2018年7月24日共浏览737 次【编辑录入：中华旅游网】
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Huaqing Hot Spring lies at the northern foot of Mount Li in Lintong District, Xi'an. Legend has it that King You of the Western Zhou Dynasty built a temporary palace here. The site was renovated repeatedly through the Qin, Han and Sui dynasties, and further expanded on numerous occasions in the Tang Dynasty. It was first named Tangquan Palace, and later renamed Wenquan Palace.

Large-scale construction was carried out during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang. Natural hot springs were transformed into pools, and palaces were built all around the mountain. The complex was officially titled Huaqing Palace. Since it was built right above the hot springs, people also called it Huaqing Hot Spring.

In the Tang Dynasty, Huaqing Palace served as a resort where emperors and imperial concubines spent leisure time and held feasts. The royal family would stay here from the tenth lunar month until the year's end. Records show that over 41 years from the 2nd year of the Kaiyuan reign (714 AD) to the 14th year of the Tianbao reign (755 AD), Emperor Xuanzong visited the place as many as 36 times.

Today, there are four hot spring outlets with a total water flow of 112 tons per hour and a constant water temperature of 43°C. Rich in various minerals and organic substances, the spring water is beneficial to skin care and physical therapy. In his famous poem Song of Everlasting Sorrow, Bai Juyi wrote:

Against the lingering spring chill, she bathed in Huaqing Pool;
The smooth hot spring water cleansed her fair, creamy skin.

Above the main gate hangs a horizontal inscribed board bearing the name "Huaqing Hot Spring", written by Guo Moruo. Upon entering, you will see two tall cedar trees standing tall and proud. Two palace-style bathing pools stand symmetrically on either side, followed by newly-built pools further inside.

Heading right past the new pools and through the Dragon Wall, you will reach the Nine-Dragon Lake. Its surface is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting pavilions and weeping willows along the banks. On the eastern shore stands Yichun Hall, while Feishuang Hall dominates the northern shore. Chenxiang Hall faces Yichun Hall across the lake, and a winding corridor stretches along the western bank.

Walk south across the Dragon Stone Boat, passing Morning Sun Pavilion, Nine-Dragon Bridge and Sunset Glow Pavilion, and you will arrive at the Tang-style complex of the Concubine Pools.

Lotus Pool: Shaped like a lotus flower, reserved for the emperor.
Crabapple Pool: Designed in the form of a crabapple blossom, for the imperial concubine.
Royal Chef Pool: Used by court ministers.
Star Pool: It is said the original site had no shelters overhead, so bathers could gaze at stars in the sky, hence the name.

Behind the Star Pool is the ancient source of the hot springs. Moving forward from the Concubine Pools, you come to Lake View Tower. A lotus pond lies in front of it, and further ahead is Flying Cloud Pavilion, where the imperial concubine is said to have enjoyed the scenery and dried her hair after bathing.

Next is the Five-Room Pavilion. During the world-famous Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek once stayed here. Partway up Mount Li behind the pavilion stands the Xi'an Incident Pavilion, built of reinforced concrete. Its inscribed board is crafted from precious Lantian jade.