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Shaanxi Travel and Tours Guide

Xianyang  Weinan  Tongchuan  Hancheng  Yan'an  Yulin  Baoji  Hanzhong  Ankang  Shangzhou

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Shaanxi Province has a time-honored history and a well-developed culture. It was the starting point of the Silk Road that extended from Asia to Europe and played an important role in cultural interflow between the East and West in ancient times. Beginning in the 1 1 th century, Van served intermittently for more than 1,100 years as the capital of 1 3 feudal dynasties. The favorable geographical environment and long history have left Shaanxi with many unique places of historic interest and enchanting landscapes, cultural sites, and revolutionary sites. There are six cities of historic and cultural interest and 35,750 historical relic places, including more than 10,000 historic ruins, 4,300 tombs, 557 grottoes, and nearly 20,000 stone sculptures and ancient and modern buildings. The worldrenowned Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), and the terracotta warriors and horses were included by UNESCO in the List of World's Cultural Heritages.

A network of air, railway, and highway transport that has been formed in Shaanxi Province radiates in all directions. The province is a vital traffic artery linking China's northwest and southwest. Xianyang Airport in Van is one of China's modern airports. The Longhai (Lianyungang-Lanzhou) Railway that links Eurasia runs from east to west through the province. A highway network with Van as its center reaches all the cities , towns, and scenic sites. Tourism has become an important industrial sector of Shaanxi.

Xianyang     TOP
The city of Xianyang is located in the central part of Guanzhong Plain, 25 kilometers west of Xi'an. It was made the capital of feudal China after the country was unified for the first time in history. The city is 10,213 square kilometers in area and has 1,585 places of historic interest. These include such major historical sites as the Qianfo Pagoda, the ruins of Xianyang during the Qin Dynasty, the Shunting, the Changling, the Hanling , the tomb of Princess Chang Le, and the tomb of Yang Gull Fei. These historical relics are valuable data for the study of Chinese history.

Qianfo Pagoda
Also known as the Iron Pagoda, it is in Beidu Town, 15 kilometers from Xianyang. The octagonal, cone-shaped pagoda has ten stories and stands at 30 meters. It is exquisitely cast and of high artistic value.

The Maoling
It is the resting place of Emperor Wu Di of the Western Dynasty in Maoling Village of Xingping County, nine kilometers from Xianyang. It is the largest tomb with the most funeral objects of the royal court of the Western Han Dynasty. The cemetery is encirled by a city wall of 430.87 meters from east to west and 414.87 from south to north. The wall's foundation is 5.8 meters wide. Inside the wall are halls for offering sacrifices, the tomb, and houses for imperial maids and tomb guards.

The Qianling
It contains the remains of Emperor Gao Zong and Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. The tomb is on Mount Liangshan, 45 kilometers from Xianyang. Originally, the cemetery had an inner wall and an outer wall with watchtowers perching on top of each of the corners and large stone sculptures. The tomb is flanked in front with 61 stone statues of the chieftains of minority groups and foreign envoys attending the funeral of Emperor Gao Zong.

Baoji CityTOP
Sprawling in the western part of Shaanxi Province, the city of Baoji has a long history and a galaxy of talents. It is a natural museum of history with a great wealth of historical relics unearthed. There are such scenic spots as the Site of the Fishing Terrace, the Temple of Duke Zhou, the Famen Temple Pagoda, the Jintai Temple, and the Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area.

The Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area
Located at the northern foot of the Qinling Range, the 124square-kilometer scenic area is composed of five groups of scenic spots and five individual scenic spots. These include the Temple of Emperor Yan, the Temple of Shen Nong, the ruins of the Yangshao and the Shang-Zhou-dynasty cultures, inscriptions on drum-shaped stone blocks, the Dasan Hall, a Toaist temple, The Lotus-Shaped Tiantai Plinth.

The Site of the Fishing Terrace
It is located in the Liuxi Valley south of Baoji City, where mountain peaks rise one after another, imposing halls nestle among luxuriant pine and cypress trees, and the river water gurgles down the mountain slopes.

The Famen Temple Pagoda
It is in Fufeng County in western Guanzhong Plain. Construction began during the Eastern Han Dynasty, with the pagoda erected first and the temple built later. The temple is one of the wellknown ancient temples in northern China.

The Ancient Architectural Complex at the Town God's Temple
Located on East Street in the Fufeng County seat, the temple is one of the best-preserved architectural complex from the Ming Dynasty in Guanzhong Plain. Ancient buildings at the temple include a theater, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, the main entrance, a wooden archway, and side halls. These pillar and beam structures, each with an ingenious design, embody the superb architectural techiques of the Ming Dynasty.

Weinan CityTOP
Lying in the eastern Guanzhong Plain, the city of Weinan is where the Administrative Office of Weinan Prefecture located. It is also the native place of Bai Juyi, a Tang Dynasty poet, and Kou Zhun, prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty (960- 1127). There are such historical sites as the pagoda at the Xiajihuizhao Temple and the tomb of Kou Zhun.

Huayin City
It is in the southeastern Weinan Prefecture with Mount Huashan to the south. Among its places of historic interest and scenic beauty are the Mount Huashan Scenic Area, the Yuquan Courtyard, the Xiyue Temple, the Taihua Mountain Villa, ruins of the Wei Dynasty (386-550) Great Wall, and ruins of the Hanhua Capital Grain Warehouse.

The Mount Huashan Scenic Area
Situated about five kilometers south of the Huaxian County seat in the eastern Guanzhong Plain,. the scenic area is 2,160 meters about sea level. It has the Qinling Range to the south, the Huanghe (Yellow) and Weihe rivers to the north. Mount Huashan is one of the Five Sacred Mountains in China known for its tall and graceful peaks that thrust toward the sky. It is called "the No. 1 peculair and perilous mountain under heaven." There are 121 natural scenic spots in the scenic area's 113 square kilometers of land stretching for 20 kilometers from the foot to the top of the mountain. The unsophisticated yet elegant temples, pavilions, stone caves, and plank roads are built according to the terrain, making the traditional-style structures blend into a harmonious whole with the natural beauty.

The Xiyue Temple
Standing at the eastern end of Yuezhen Town, five kilometers from the foot of Mount Huashan and 1.5 kilometers east of Huayin City, the temple is built for offering sacrifices to the god of Mount Huashan. The rectangular temple composed of the inner and outer parts has an area of 13 hectares, with an layout resembling that of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Jincheng Gate and the Haoling Hall are the two most magnificent structures. The stone tablets in the temple are treasured historical relics.

The City of TongchuanTOP
The city is located in central Shaanxi Province, on the southern fringe of the Northern Shaanxi Plateau and the northern boundary of Guanzhong Plain. There are the ruins of the Yaozhou Kiln, the remains of Yuhua Palace, and many rare historical relics. The Yaozhou Kiln, one of the four principal kilns in norhtern China, once extended for five kilomters. The Forest of Stone Sculptures on Yaowang (Bhaisajyaraja) Mountain is a major historical relic under state protection.

The Ruins of the Yaozhou Kiln
The site of ancient pottery and porcelain kilns in Hengbao Town on the outskirts of Tongchuan, the Yaozhou Kiln was the central one of the kilns in Yaozhou. Excavations have been carried out in an area of 11,500 square meters. More than 100 workshops and kilns from the Tang through to the Yuan (1271-1368) Dynasty were found, and over 5,000 pieces of porcelainware were brought to light.

Stone Sculptures on Yaowang Mountain
The mountain is 1.5 kilometers east of the Yaoxian County seat. There are 200 stone tablets erected during the past dynasties, seven grottoes of the Sui and Tang dynasties as well as statutes from the Northern Wei to the Tang times.

Hancheng CityTOP
Located in the northeastern part of the Weinan Prefecture, Hancheng, with green mountains and clear waters, is a city propitious for giving birth to outstanding people. It is known in central Shaanxi Province for its places of historic interest and scenic beauty. There are the Longmen Gate, the tomb and temple of Sima Qian, the remains of the Wei Dynasty Great Wall, the Puzhao Temple of the Yuan Dynasty, and an ancient ferry at Yumen.

The Temple of Sima Qian
Built in 310, the temple is in Zhichuan Town some ten kilometers south of Hancheng. There are four tiers of terraces linked with stone steps. The tomb containing the personal effects of Sima Qian rests on the fourth terrace. Stone tablets at the grand temple bear inscriptions in memory of Sima Qian by visitors and men -of letters from the past dynasties.

Yan'an City TOP
Located in the central Yan'an Prefecture, the timehonored city of Yan'an is the seat of the Administrative Office of the Yan'an Prefecture. It covers an area of 3,556 square kilometers. It was here that the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee led the Chinese people in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. As a sacred place in the Chinese revolution, Yan'an has rich historical relics and many places of historic interest and scenic beauty.

Qingliang Mountain
Also called Taihe Mountain, the enchanting Qingliang Mountain towers in the northern part of Yan'an. Its scenic spots include Wanranyunxia (Looking like Rosy Clouds), Yue'erjing (Moon Well), Shiwan (Poetry Bay), Shuizhao Yan'an (Water Mirroring Yan'an), Pipa Bridge, and the Immortal's Cave. There is also the Qingliang Mountain Information and Publication Memorial Hall.

Pagoda Hill
Also known as Dialing Hill, it stands by the Yanhe River east of the city of Yan'an, with an elevation of 1,076.3 meters. The hill is named after the pagoda on it. The pavilion-style pagoda, a Ming Dynasty structure, is 44 meters high. Standing on top of the majestic pagoda, one can have a panoramic view of Yan'an City. The pagoda is the symbol of Yan'an as a sacred place in the Chinese revolution.

Yulin CityTOP
Lying in the northern most tip of Shaanxi Province, the city of Yulin extends for 7,053 square kilomters in area. It has a long history and a well-developed culture. The wellknown Hetao Man was named after the paleoanthropological finds at Xiaoheqiao in Jingbian County. Ruins of the Yangshao and Longshan cultures are scattered along the Wading River. The long-standing history of Yulin has left it with unique tourist resources outside the Great Wall. The principal cultural relics and historical sites include the Zhenbei Beacon Tower, Tongwan City, the Temporary Palace of Li Zicheng, the Tomb of Fu Su, and the Wanfo (Ten-Thousand-Buddha) Cave.

The Hongshi Gorge-Zhenbei Beacon Tower Scenic Area
Located in the northern suburbs of Yulin, the scenic area consists of the Zhenbei Beacon Tower, South Gorge, North Gorge, psammophytes, and desert meadows. The scenic area is known for its beauty, wonderfulness, vastness, and seclusion. Hongshi Gorge is to be found in the center of the scenic area, where steep cliffs rise one after another on both sides, while the Yuxi River flows swiftly through the gorge. Hongshi Gorge features more than 200 inscriptions, caves and temples.

The Temporary Palace of Li Zicheng
Built on Panlong Mountain north of the Mizhi County seat, the palace is an expansion of the Temple of the God of the Northern Sky. A flight of 90 stone steps that leads to the top is flanked by ancient structures. The Qixiang Hall and the Zhaoqing Palace in the shape of two coiling dragons are built on a terrace on the top of Panlong Mountain.

Hanzhong CityTOP
Lying in the center of the Hanzhong Basin, the city of Hanzhong is 500 meters above sea level. There is neither bitter cold winter nor hot summer, with an annual mean temperature of 14.3°c. The principal scenic attractions include the ancient Baoxie Plank Road, the Baijiang Platform, and the ancient Hutou Bridge.

The Ancient Baoxie Plank Raod
Also called Baoxie Road or Daogu, it stretches for 120 kilometers from Baocheng County of Hanzhong City in the south to Xieyu Pass in Meixian County in the north. It is the oldest and the largest of its category in China.

The Wuhou (Marquis Wu's) Temple and Tomb
Lying at the northwestern foot of Dingjun Mountain, five kilometers south of Mianxian County, the Wuhou Tomb (the Tomb of Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of State Shu), covers an area of 0.21 square kilometers. Known as a "natural park" in southern Shaanxi, the tomb is surrounded by rolling hills and tucked away under tall trees. The Wuhou Temple is to the south of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway, four kilometers west of the Mianxian County seat. Built in 263, the imposing temple faces north and has the Hanshui River at its back. There are towers, pavilions, kiosks as well as tall cypresses.

Ankang CityTOP
Situated in the middle of the Ankang Prefecture, the city of Ankang has 40 places of historic interest. Qinjiao Town, a military point of strategic importance of State Qin, boasts of many historical relics from the Warring States Period.