Attraction: Huaqing Pool

Huaqing Pool are the Imperial Pools of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), Pear Garden, Frost Flying Hall, Nine-Dragon Lake, Five-Room Building, and Mount Li. They are all located 30 kilometers east of Xi’an, next to the Terracotta Army. The passionate love story of Tang Emperor Xuanzong and his consort Yang Yuhuan is told at Huaqing Pool.

During the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046BC – 771BC), King You is claimed to have erected the first palace at the foot of Mount Li. Additions to the palace were added in later dynasties. During his reign, Emperor Xuanzong lavished vast sums of money on expanding it into the magnificent Huaqing Hot Springs or Huaqing Palace.

There are five hot spring pools left inside Huaqing Pool: the Lotus Pool, Haitang Pool, Star Pool, Shangshi Pool, and the Prince Pool. Emperor Xuanzong’s private bathing pool, which resembled a lotus, was known as the Lotus Pool. Yang Yuhuan built Haitang Pool, also known as Guifei Pool, which looks like a Chinese crabapple.

The Star Pool is reported to have no roof, allowing bathers to enjoy the stars while bathing. The officials used Shangshi Pool, while the Prince used the Prince Pool.