Peoples Daily | 19-Jul-2020 | By Kou Jie
Located 25km east of Xi’an, Huaqing Palace, a complex of hot springs and ancient architecture, is famous for being the supposed scene of Tang emperor Xuanzong’s romance with his consort Yang Guifei.
Renowned poet Bai Juyi depicted the royal couple’s love stories in his masterpiece “Song of Everlasting Regret” with these lines: On a cold spring day, he bestowed upon her the honour of bathing with him at the Huaqing pool…this was when she began to receive the emperor’s advances.
In addition to its rich history, Xi’an also boasts fantastic natural beauty. Surrounded by Qinling Mountains, one of China’s largest and longest mountain ranges, the mountain areas around Xi’an are also home to countless rare plants and animals. Ginkgo, one of the oldest species of trees in the world, is native to the area, while Qinling pandas, a sub-species of the giant panda, accounts for around a fifth of the entire wild panda population. In 2009, a UNESCO global geopark was built in Xi’an, attracting scholars and visitors worldwide who come to admire its abundant geological heritage sites, splendid landscapes, diversity of biological species, as well as its favorable environment and rich historic culture.
More fascinating tales from China: Xi’an, Shaanxi Province – Film museum of China Western Film Group