| Other name | Huaqing Palace |
|---|---|
| Location | Mount Li, Qinling, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China |
| Coordinates | 34°21′54″N 109°12′26″E |
| T | 華清池 |
|---|---|
| S | 华清池 |
| P | Huáqīng chí |
| W | Hua2-ch'ing1 chih2 |
| Mi | /hua2qing1-ch^2/ |
| J | Waa4-cing1 ci4 |
| Y | Wàah-chīng chìh |
| Tl | Huâ-tshing tî (lit.) |
The Huaqing Pool (华清池), also known as the Huaqing Palace (华清宫), is a complex of imperial gardens known for its hot springs at the northern foot of Mount Li, Qinling, approximately 25 kilometers (16 mi) east of Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
History
The permanent springs that constitute the Huaqing Pool utilize naturally occurring geothermal heat and have a documented history of almost three millennia, having served as the site of several palaces built by past Chinese rulers, including King You of the Zhou dynasty, Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty, and Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, who expanded the complex.
Under the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong had the complex rebuilt in 723 as the Huaqing Palace; the site is famous as the setting of Xuanzong's romance with his consort Yang Guifei. The palace suffered considerable damage during the An Lushan Rebellion, though its legacy has received lasting commemoration, including in Bai Juyi's Chang Hen Ge:
春寒賜浴華清池 溫泉水滑洗凝脂 侍兒扶起嬌無力 始是新承恩澤時
This site was also the scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident, when Chiang Kai-shek was kidnapped by generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng, who forced him into a United Front with the Chinese Communist Party to oppose Imperial Japan.[1]
Present
The Huaqing Pool is today a popular tourist spot, managed by the Shannxi Tourism Group and classified as an AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.[2]
References
- ^ Ray Huang, China: A Macro History (New York: M.E. Sharpe, 1997), p. 4.
- ^ "AAAAA Scenic Areas". China National Tourism Administration. 16 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
External links
- "The Huaqing Palace in the heyday of Tang dynasty". No. 4. The missing ancient architectures. Episode 4. China Central Television (English subtitle)