China Silk Road Travel Part 43: Huaqing Hot Spring

We were back in Xian to complete our Silk Road Tour. It was drizzling when we started our tour many days ago but on the last day the rain just got bigger in Xian. Furnished with umbrellas and raincoats we proceeded to Huaqing Hot Spring at the foot of Lishan Hills. 

  At the entrance were some grotesque looking statues.

Huaqing Hotspring is located in a geothermal rift zone with constant running water of 43°C or 110°F - a nice place indeed to soak and bathe. What's famous here are the historical discoveries of bathing pools of royalties built during the Tang Dynasty. 

Crabapple Pool was built in 747 for Lady Yang the favorite concubine of Emperor Xuanzong.

 A statue of the concubine was erected near the pool and dozens queued to take a snapshot with it. 

The statue of Lady Yang is obviously neither authentic nor ancient as it looks like a modern piece of sculpture.

But she is successfully portrayed as a very sexy woman.

Lotus Flower Pool was built in 747 for Emperor Xuanzong.

Star Pool was built in 644 for Emperor Taizong.

There were  lots of historical write-up about the Tang Dynasty on the walls.

The Crown Prince pool was built in 644 and excavated in 1982.

Imperial chefs and palace officials were not a forgotten people as this pool, called Shangxi Pool was built for them. Looking at these ancient pools did invoke lots of imagination, I admit. 

I like this place as it it adorned with beautiful buildings (probably not ancient) and interesting sculptures.

There are also many pomegranate trees.

Set against the backdrop of hills, this place is just heavenly.

China Silk Road Tour Related Posts: 
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Daming Palace National Heritage Park
Part 3: Hancheng Lake
Part 4: I Stayed In Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza, Xian
Part 5: Xinjiang Where The People Speaks Mandarin With A Funny Accent
Part 6: Heavenly Lake
Part 7: Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
Part 8: Hooray! 2 Nights In Cinda Hoi Tak Hotel, Urumqi
Part 9: Glimpses Of Turpan (Xinjiang)
Part 10: Karez Well
Part 11: The Ruins Of Jiohe
Part 12: The Grape Valley Of Turpan
Part 13: Nothing Comes Free!
Part 14: Emin Minaret
Part 15: Flaming Mountain
Part 16: Tuyugou Canyon
Part 17: Mazar Village Of Tuyugou Valley
Part 18: Kumtag Desert
Part 19: Turpan Maixi Laipu Hotel Review
Part 20: Xinjiang Cuisine
Part 21: The Journey To Hami
Part 22: Hami Hotel Block 6 Photo Review
Part 23 : Glimpses Of Dunhuang (Photo Gallery)
Part 24: An Amazing Desert Experience At Echoing Sand Dunes
Part 25: A Camel Ride At Echoing Sand Dunes
Part 26: An Oasis Of Flowers At Echoing Sand Dunes
Part 27: Crescent Lake
Part 28: Mogao Grottoes
Part 29: Dunhuang Fuguo Hotel Photo Review
Part 30: Jiayuguan pass
Part 31: Jiuquan Park
Part 32: 1 Night In Jiuquan Hotel
Part 33: Glimpses Of Jiuquan
Part 34: Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park
Part 35: My Journey From Jiuquan Into Zhangye
Part 36: Giang Buddha Temple, Zhangye
Part 37: Power Mansion Hotel, Zhangye
Part 38: The Journey Into Wuwei
Part 39: Leitei Tomb Of The Han Dynasty
Part 40: Glimpses Of Langzhou
Part 41: Langzhou Waterwheel Garden
Part 42: Only 8 Hours In Langzhou Legend Hotel
Part 44: Terracotta Warriors
Part 45: Shaanxi Sunshine Grand Theatre