华清池文本
华清池
百科名片
华清池华清池亦名华清宫，位于西安东约30公里的临潼骊山北麓，是中国著名的温泉胜地。1982年华清池被列入中国第一批重点风景名胜区，西安事变旧址五间厅被列为中国第二批重点文物保护单位。1996年，国务院公布唐华清宫遗址为中国第四批重点文物保护单位。
目录
地理位置
景区梗概
人文历史
景区荣誉
主要景点芙蓉园
温泉
唐御汤遗址
梨园
唐代水井
骊山温泉
碑海书林
九龙湖
旅游相关门票价格
旅游时间
交通指南
景区气候
住宿条件
相关诗词地理位置
景区梗概
人文历史
景区荣誉
主要景点 芙蓉园
温泉
唐御汤遗址
梨园
唐代水井
骊山温泉
碑海书林
九龙湖
旅游相关 门票价格
旅游时间
交通指南
景区气候
住宿条件
相关诗词
展开 编辑本段地理位置
[1] 华清池（Huaqing Palace Heritage Site[2]）华清池
本数据来源于百度地图，最终结果以百度地图数据为准。
位于西安东约30公里的临潼骊山脚下北麓，是中国著名的温泉胜地，温泉水与日月同流不盈，不虚。每天都有很多游人在这里洗温泉澡。
编辑本段景区梗概
自古以来，华清池为游览胜地。华清池温泉共有4处泉源，在一石券洞内，现有的圆形水池，半径约1米，水清见底，蒸汽徐升，脚下暗道潺潺有声，温泉出水量每小时达113吨，水无色透明，水温常年稳定在43度左右。四处水源眼中的一处发现于西周公元前十一世纪——前771年时代，其中三处是解放后开发的。水内含多种矿物质和有机物质，有石灰、碳酸钠、二氧化硅、三氧化二铝、氧化钠、硫磺、硫酸钠等多种矿物质。骊山温泉、千古涌流，不赢不虚。温泉水不仅适于洗澡淋浴，同时对关节炎、皮肤病等都有一定的疗效。浴池建筑面积约3000平方米，华清池有各类浴池一百多间，一次可容纳近400人洗浴。
编辑本段人文历史
华清池景观（一）(18张)这里作为古代帝王的离宫和游览地已有三千多年的历史。周，秦，汉，隋，唐等历代帝王都在这里修建过行宫别苑，以资游幸。冬天利用温泉水在墙内循环制成暖气，每当雪花飘舞时，到了这里便落雪为霜，故名飞霜殿。相传西周的周幽王曾在这里修建离宫。秦、汉、隋各代先后重加修建，到了唐代又数次增建。名曰汤泉宫，后改名温泉宫。到了唐玄宗时又大兴土木，治汤井为池，环山列宫殿，此时才称华清宫。因宫在温泉上面，所以也称华清池。唐代华清池是帝王妃嫔游宴的行宫，每年十月到此，第二年春天才返回。唐天宝六年(747)扩建后，唐朝第七个皇帝唐玄宗每年携带杨贵妃到此过冬沐浴，在此赏景。
据记载，唐玄宗从开元二年（714年）到天宝十四年（755年）的41年时间里，先后来此达36次之多。飞霜殿原是唐玄宗（685一762）和杨贵妃的寝殿。白居易《长恨歌》就写道：“春寒赐浴华清池，温泉水滑洗凝脂。侍儿扶起娇无力，始是新承恩泽时”。 据历史记载，这里的温泉大约发现在3000年前的西周时代。汉代曾在这里建造帝王贵族的行宫别墅。唐代建有富丽堂皇的“华清宫”。“华清池”由此得名。经历代战争，原来的建筑都已毁塌。现在的建筑都是按照历史记载的布局于1959年重建的。 华清池大门上方有郭沫若书写的“华清池”匾额。进了大门就见两株高大的雪松昂然挺立，两座宫殿式建筑的浴池左右对称，往后是新浴池，由新浴池往右行，穿过龙墙便是九龙湖，湖面平如明镜，亭台倒影， 垂柳拂岸，湖东岸是宜春殿，北岸是飞霜殿为主体建筑，沉香殿和宜春 殿东西相对，西岸是九曲回廊。由北向南过龙石舫，再经晨旭亭、九龙桥、晚霞亭，便到了仿唐“贵妃池”建筑群。 兵谏亭
“莲花汤”是玄宗皇帝沐浴的地方，占地400m2，是一个可浴可泳的两用汤池，充分显示了至高无上、唯我独尊的皇权威严。池底一对约30cm的进水口曾装有双莲花喷头同时向外喷水，并蒂石莲花象征着玄宗、贵妃的爱情。 “海棠汤”，俗称“贵妃池”，始建于公元747年，因平面呈一朵盛开的海棠花而得名。白居易《长恨歌》中“春寒赐浴华清池，温泉水滑洗凝脂。侍儿扶起娇无力，始是新承恩泽时”的杨贵妃在这花朵一样的浴池中沐浴了近十个春秋。 “星辰汤”修建于公元644年，是专供唐太宗李世民沐浴的汤池，池壁造型是南峭北柔，初步推测是工匠模拟自然界山川河流的造型修建的。传说原址上面及四周无遮物，沐浴可见天上星辰，故名。在星辰汤后面还有温泉古源。出了贵妃池向前行便进望湖楼，先见荷花池然后经飞霞阁，传说此阁是贵妃浴后观景及凉发之处。 现在的九龙汤是唐玄宗洗浴的池名, 贵妃池是杨贵妃沐浴的地方。接着来到五间亭，中国近代史上著名的“西安事变”也发生在这里。震惊中外的西安事变发生时蒋介石曾在此居住过。后面骊山的半腰间虎斑石处还有一座“兵谏亭”，高4米，宽2．5米，水泥钢筋结构，兵谏亭匾额是用贵重的蓝田玉制成。走出望湖楼，向右可沿着一条砖砌的台阶上行，直登苍翠葱绿、美如锦绣的骊山游览。经近年来考古发掘，在唐华清宫保护范围内发现了唐梨园遗址，清理出“莲花汤”（御汤）、“海棠汤”（贵妃池）等五处皇家汤池遗址及大量建筑材料。同时在唐、汉文化层下发现
了新石器时代的夹砂泥质陶片，为研究华清池的历史提供了珍贵的实物依据。 九龙湖
1936年12月12日，震惊中外的“西安事变”就发生在这里，这次事件直接引起了第二次国共合作，是中国抗战史上重要的转折点。“西安事变”的遗址在华清池风景区，内有五间厅和兵谏亭等。今天的华清池，名山胜水更显奇葩，自然景区一分为三，：东部为沐浴场所，设有尚食汤，少阳汤，长汤，冲浪浴等高档保健沐浴场所，西部为园林游览区，主体建筑飞霜殿殿宇轩昂，宜春殿左右相称。园林南部为文物保护区，千古流芳的骊山温泉就在于此。 近年来，为了适应旅游形势的发展，华清池内又新添了中外书法碑林、梨园及其它艺术展馆。构成了集旅游、文物、园林、沐浴、娱乐、餐饮、为一体的综合性文物游览场所。堪称北方皇家园林之典范。 2007年5月8日，西安市华清池景区经国家旅游局正式批准为国家5A级旅游景区。 太子汤是专供太子沐浴的汤池。“尚食汤”是专供尚食局官员沐浴的汤池。 在星辰汤后面还有温泉古源。出了贵妃池向前行便进望湖楼，先见荷花池然后经飞霞阁， 传说此阁是贵妃浴后观景及凉发之处。 现在的九龙汤是唐玄宗洗浴的池名, 贵妃池是杨贵妃沐浴的地方。接着来到五间亭，中国近代史上著名的“西安事变”就发生在这里。震惊中外的西安事变发 华清池
生时蒋介石就在此居住，后在骊山半腰被抓。现在骊山的半腰间虎斑石处还有一座“兵谏亭”，高4米，宽2．5米，水泥钢筋结构，兵谏亭匾额是用贵重的蓝田玉制成。走出望湖楼，向右可沿着一条砖砌的台阶上行，直登苍翠葱绿、美如锦绣的骊山游览。经近年来考古发掘，在唐华清宫保护范围内发现了唐梨园遗址，清理出“莲花汤”（御汤）、“海棠汤”（贵妃池）等五处皇家汤池遗址及大量建筑材料。[3]同时在唐、汉文化层下发现了新石器时代的夹砂泥质陶片，为研究华清池的历史提供了珍贵的实物依据。 “西安事变”遗址 1936年12月12日，震惊中外的“西安事变”就发生在这里，这次事件直接引起了第二次国共合作，是中国抗战史上重要的转折点。“西安事变”的遗址在华清池风景区，内有五间厅和兵谏亭等。 今天的华清池，名山胜水更显奇葩，自然景区一分为三，：东部为沐浴场所，设有尚食汤，少阳汤，长汤，冲浪浴等高档保健沐浴场所，西部为园林游览区，主体建筑飞霜殿殿宇轩昂，宜春殿左右相称。园林南部为文物保护区，千古流芳的骊山温泉就在于此。
编辑本段景区荣誉
近年来，为了适应旅游形势的发展，华清
池内又新添了中外书法碑林、梨园及其它艺术展馆。构成了集旅游、文物、园林、沐浴、娱乐、餐饮、为一体的综合性文物游览场所。堪称北方皇家园林之典范。 1982年华清池被列入中国第一批重点风景名胜区，同年2月，西安事变旧址五间厅被列为中国第二批重点文物保护单位。1996年，国务院公布唐华清宫遗址为中国第四批重点文物保护单位。 1998年，被建设部授予“中国名园”。2000年被评为中国首批AAAA级旅游景区。 2007年5月8日，西安市华清池景区经国家旅游局正式批准为国家5A级旅游景区。
编辑本段主要景点
芙蓉园
华清池(老图)
华清宫遗址芙蓉园恢复项目是陕西省温泉旅游重点项目，于2000年立项,2003年6月一期工程正式动 工。工程分二期，一期工程规划总地面积32亩总投资近亿元，于2005年9月27日建成并向游人正式开放了以“静”态观光为主的唐风唐韵浓郁的皇家园林区使华清宫游览面积增加一倍，增添了唐玄宗与杨贵妃“七夕盟誓”的“长生殿”、温泉神女亭、芙蓉湖、得宝楼、果老药堂、御茗轩等十余处新景观。二期工程为温泉沐浴休闲区，占地约26亩，计划投资源1.5亿元，主要建设项目有五星级宾馆、唐式御宴功德院、仿唐式沐浴长汤十六所、欧、日式沐浴芙蓉汤、仿唐茶道、仿唐式娱乐区等，眼下以沐浴休闲为主的二期工程正在紧锣密鼓的招商过程中，预计全部建成还需2至3年，并将全力打造西北唯一一个代表唐文化内涵的皇家园林游览观光、休闲沐浴为一体的风景名胜区。唐华清宫遗址的恢复扩建对改变陕西旅游新格局具有非常重要的意义，对促进我省旅游业发展，必将产生深远的影响。
温泉
中国已知温泉达2700多处，独华清池温泉以芳香凝脂、动人故事名冠诸泉之首，有“天下第一御泉”的美称。华清池温泉水温常年保持43℃，水质纯净，细腻柔滑，水中含有二氧化硅、氟离子等10多种矿物质，对风湿、关节炎等疾病均有明显的疗效，因而吸引历代帝王沐浴游幸。公元747年-757年每年十月至次年暮春，唐玄宗都会带杨贵妃姐妹驾临华清宫避寒游乐。“春寒赐浴华清池，温泉水滑洗凝脂。侍儿扶起娇无力，始是新承恩泽时”，便是唐代大诗人白居易对贵妃在华清宫内赐浴的真实写照。华清池温泉也因此而闻名天下，为世人所向往，成为与古罗马卡瑞卡拉浴场和英国的巴思温泉齐名的“东方神泉”。现有水源三处。
唐御汤遗址
莲花汤与海棠汤
唐御汤遗址发现于1982年4月，经过三年多的发掘，在4600平方米发掘区内，清理出唐玄宗与杨贵妃沐浴的“莲花汤”、“海棠汤”、唐太宗沐浴的“
星辰汤”以及“太子汤”、“尚食汤”等五处皇家汤池遗址，同时出土的还有三彩脊兽、莲花纹砖和新石器、秦、汉等时期的文物3000余件。御汤遗址的发现是我国隋唐考古的又一重大成果，为研究我国沐浴史、封建等级制度和唐代宫廷建筑提供了珍贵的实物史料。
梨园
梨园
以梨园为代表的唐代音乐舞蹈艺术是我国古代歌舞艺术上的鼎盛阶段。国力强盛，经济繁荣，外来音乐文化的交流和融合，帝王对音乐舞蹈的酷爱和推崇，使当时的华清宫云集了大批乐舞艺人，呈现出百花斗妍，多姿多彩的繁盛局面。 盛唐时期。唐玄宗和杨贵妃在华清宫内演绎了千年传诵的爱情故事，使这座古老的皇家园林成为他们爱情的见证。玄宗“尤知音律”，杨贵妃“弹唱娴熟”，他们珠联璧合，创作了许多千古妙曲歌舞。著名的有《霓裳羽衣舞》、《得宝子》、《凌波曲》等等。唐玄宗还开创了我国历史上第一所皇家音乐艺术学校――梨园，把梨园作为音乐、舞蹈、戏剧活动的中心，且以教习和演奏法曲为重点，并结合诸多音乐名师和舞蹈家，它也因此被尊奉为中国戏曲艺术的鼻祖。
唐代水井
华清池园内现存的唯一一口唐代水井遗址。唐代帝王驾幸华清宫时，汲取净水，饮食利用，尤其是天宝年间，成为杨贵妃在华清宫的专用井。1987年考古队发现，距今已有1300年历史，并深8.3米，井口及井身呈椭圆型，南北长1.9米，东西长1.26米，底部略小，壁厚0.25米，井壁蝇纹条砖和手印条砖错缝环砌而成，底无铺砖。
骊山温泉
骊山温泉堪称一绝，其历史久远，任沧桑巨变，仍千古不竭，被誉为“天下第一泉”。华清池温泉形成于二、三百万年以前，6000年前就为姜寨先民所利用。 周、秦、汉、唐以来，历代帝王均在此修建汤池沐浴，使其逐渐成为皇家御用温泉，朝中大臣能在此沐浴也是一种恩赐。现华清池院内夕佳楼处有一温泉古源，距今已有数千年历史，由此可见华清池温泉利用之早。温泉水来自地下的“常温层”，水温常年保持43C，不受四季变化的影响，“不以古今变质，不以凉暑易操。”每小时流量113吨，数千年来，“与日月同流，无霄无旦，不盈不虚，将天地而齐固。” 骊山温泉水中含有丰富的矿物质，经化验分析：内含一氧化硅、氟离子等多种矿物质，淋浴可消疹荡疾，“自然之经方，天地之元医。”它的医疗功效在2000年前的秦代就被人们发现。汉代科学家张衡的《温泉赋》、北魏元苌的《温泉颂》，唐太宗李世民的《温泉铭》等都对在温泉沐浴能医病疗疾方面作了记述。华清池园内沐浴区所修建的汤池皆袭唐华
清宫旧名，这些名汤贵池，为沐浴者领略“春寒赐浴华清池，温泉水滑洗凝脂”提供了良好的场所。
碑海书林
华清池现存的历史名碑共7通，诗石16块，石刻7处，石雕4对，1949年以后又先后刊 水上表演
[4]刻石碑、碣诗石共计69多方，其中著名的有《北魏温泉颂碑》、《温泉铭碑》等。 《温泉铭碑》，公元647年，唐太宗李世民御书制碑，立于“汤泉宫”南门左侧御书亭内，原碑已荡然无存。1993年3月，华清池依据原碑拓片进行复制，安置在御汤遗址博物馆内平台上。此碑开行书入碑之先河。 《北魏温泉颂碑》，由北魏雍州刺史元苌撰文并书，唐时号称玻璃碑，碑为璃首，高1.50米、宽0.7米，碑文20行，行字30字，共计588字。它是华清池最早的实物资料，1982年国家文物局将其列为全国禁拓名碑。
九龙湖
华清池内的九龙湖若骊山脚下的一面明镜，九龙桥将其分为上湖和下湖。白天的九龙湖水静波明、沉静优美，而当夜幕降临，所有建筑被动感彩灯、景观灯和彩色灯所围绕，近1000平方米的水上舞台缓缓浮出九龙湖水面，以全新理念引入的激光辐射、电脑特技、梦幻特效等表现手法，将为广大中外游客营造出李杨二人水乳交融的爱情世界和人与自然和谐相处的梦幻佳境，给观众以视觉和感观上的强烈震撼。华清池(6张)?
The Huaqing Pool is located in the Lintong District 30 km east to the urban area of Xian. With Mount. Li to its south and the Wei River to its north, it boasts the natural hot springs. The favorable geographical condition and natural environment make it one of the cradles where ancient people settled and . It was also a favorite place for emperors to buildtheir palaces as a resort. Since ancient times, it has ever been a famous bathing and tourist destination.
According to historical records and archeological the Huaqing Pool has a history of 6000 years for the use of hot springs and a history of 3000 years of royal gardens. Over these years, the cultural relics excavated near the source of hot springs prove that over 6000 years ago primitive residents had used the hot spring. In West Zhou, King Youwang ordered the construction of Li Palace on the site. Then the emperors of the following dynasties join in the line. After Emperor Xuan Zong ascended the throne, he commanded the construction of Huaqing Palace on a large scale. The construction was built along the Lishan Mountains range, and the former spring well was designed into a pool. Roads were built to reach the top of Lishan Mountain and one two-way road to Changan linked Huaqing Palace with Daming Palace and Xingqing Palace in the capital city. In the year 747 A.D., the new palace was completed and emperor Xuan Zong named it Huaqing Palace. Because there are many hot spring pools in the pa
lace, it is also called Huaqing Pool With the third peak of Lishan Mountain and the source of hot springs on the axis and the hot springs as the center, the palace was laid out in four directions. This design, on the one hand, made a good use of the hot springs; on the other hand, it represented a precise and strict layout. Inside the palace, there were officials bureaus and houses and hot pools. In addition, some recreational places such as the Rooster Fight Pit and Polo Field etc. for emperor Xuan Zong and Lady Yang were also available. At that time, the history of Huaqing Pool reached its climax.
Huaqing Pool is situated about 35 kilometres east of the city of Xi'an. Historically, the Western Zhou dynasty saw the construction of the Li Palace on the spot. In the Qin dynasty a pool was built with stones, and was given the name Lishan Tang (the Lishan Hot Spring). The site was extended into a palace in the Han dynasty, and renamed the Li Palace (the Resort Palace). In the Tang dynasty, Li Shimin (Emperor Tai Zong) ordered to construct the Hot Spring Palace, and Emperor Xuan Zong had a walled palace built around Lishan Mountain in the year of 747. It was known as the Huaqing Palace. It also had the name Huaqing Pool on account of its location on the hot springs.
Huaqing Pool is located at the foot of the Lishan Mountain, a branch range of the Qinling Ranges, and stands 1,256 metres high. It is covered with pines and cypresses, looking very much like a like a dark green galloping horse from a long distance. So it has the name of the Lishan Mountain (Li means a black horse).
The Tang dynasty Emperor Xuan Zong and his favourite lady, Yang Gui Fei used to make their home at Frost Drifting Hall in winter days. When winter came, snowflakes were floating in the air, and everything in sight was white. However, they came into thaw immediately in front of the hall. It owed a great deal to the luke warm vapour rising out of the hot spring. This is the Frost Drifting Hall that greets us today.
Close by the Frost Drifting Hall lies the Nine Dragon Pool. According to legend, the Central Shaanxi Plain was once stricken by a severe drought in the very remote past. Thus, by the order of the Jade Emperor (the Supreme Deity of Heaven), an old dragon came at the head of eight young ones, and made rain here. Yet when the disaster was just abating, they lowered their guard so much that it became serious again. In a fit of anger, the Jade Emperor kept the young dragons under the Jade Cause Way (玉堤), with the Morning Glow Pavilion and the Sunset Pavilion built at both ends of it respectively, to make the young dragons spout cleat water all day long to meet the needs of local irrigation. Besides, he had the old dragon confined to the bottom of the Roaring Dragon Waterside Pavilion situated at the upper end of the Jade Causeway, and obliged him to exercise control over the young.
The Nine-Bend Corridor west of the Nine Dragon Pool le
ads directly to the Marble Boat, which resembles a dragon boat on the water surface. In the Marble Boat lies the Nine Dragon Tang (the Nine Dragon Hot Spring where Emperor Xuan Zong used to take baths). At the head of his court ladies and hundreds of his officials, he would come to the Huanqing Palace to spend his winter days in October of the Lunar calendar and return to Chang'an City as the year drew to its close. The Nine Dragon Hot Spring was originally built with crystal jade, whose surface was decorated with the carvings of fish, dragons, birds and flowers. In it twin lotus flowers also carved with white jade could be seen as well. The spring water welled from the break of an earthen jar, and spouted up to the lotus flowers. Hence the name Lotus Flower Tang (the Lotus Flower Hot Spring).
The Gui Fei Bathing Pool was where Yang Gui Fei, Emperor Xuan Zong's favorite lady, used to take bath. It was originally built with white jade, and in its center a blooming flower spouted water like a spring. The pool looked very much like a Chinese flowering crabapple; Hence its name the Chinese Flowering Crabapple Hot Spring or the Lotus Hot Spring……
Lady Yang used to make a stay in this pavilion to see sights or to air her hair after a bath. Therefore, it was named the Hair Airing Pavilion. Whether the sun was rising or setting, the pavilion was aglow with sunshine; hence the name the Flying Roseate Pavilion.
Southwest of the Gui Fei Bathing Pool stands a brick-built pavilion. On its head three big Chinese characters “Xi Jia Lou” (Fine Sunset-Bathed Pavilion)are inscribed according to the model of the most celebrated according to the model of the most celebrated Chinese calligrapher, Yu You Ren, here is the source of the spring water.
At this spa there are four hot springs. They have an hourly flow of 112 tons, and a constant temperature of 43°C. The spring water contains lime, sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate and other minerals, which makes it suitable for bathing and considerable treatment of quite a few diseases such as dermatosis, rheumatism, arthritis and muscular pain. The Fine Sunset-Bathed Pavilion marks the first source of the spring water, which was discovered some 3,000 years ago, roughly in the Western Zhou Dynasty. Its water flow averages 25 tons per hour. Take up the steps east of the source of hot springs, you will gradually see the Five-Room Pavilion where Chiang Kaishek made a temporary stay during the Xi'an Incident.
The Xi'an Incident took place on December 12, 1936, and it is also known as the Double Twelfth Incident. After the Incident of September 18, 1936, the Japanese imperialists seized the three provinces northeast of China, and intensified their invasion of North China. This was the very moment vital to the Chinese nation. Yet Chiang Kaichek persisted doggedly in carrying out his reactionary policy “domestic tranquility is a must for the resistance against Japanese invade
s,” and commanded the Northeast Army and Northwest Army, respectively headed by Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng, to attack the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. Inspired by our Party‘s policy “let us stop the internal war and unit to resist the Japanese aggressors,” those two generals made to Chiang Kaishek the proposal of forming a united front with the Communist Party for the resistance. Not only did he reject the proposal, but flew to Xi'an to scheme the “suppression of the Communist Party.” And the slaughter of the patriotic youth. Out of patriotism, Zhang and Yang started the famous Xi’an Incident.
Very early on the morning of December 12, 1936 the Incident was impending. Zhang Xueliang, together with Yang Hucheng ordered a squad of bodyguards to surround the Huaqing Pool. They fought a fierce battle there, and wiped out Chiang's bodyguards in one vigorous effort. The sound of firing came to Chiang Kaishek, and he was so terrified that he crept out of the window with his nightgown and slippers only. What‘s more, he hurt his spinal bone, and lost one of his slippers while crossing over the back wall. He staggered up Lishan Mountain, and hid himself behind a stone in the crevice halfway on it. Those brave soldiers began to search the mountain immediately when they rushed into the Five-Room Pavilion to find that Chiang's hat and clothes were still there and that his quilt remained warm. In the end they found Chiang Kaishek, and thus escorted him to Xi’an.
In order to avoid a civil war and try t establish a national united front for the resistance against Japan, Mao Zedong on behalf of the C.C.P.C. insisted on a peaceful settlement of the Incident. Therefore, a delegation headed by Zhou Enlai was sent to Xi'an. Zhou Enlai and his suite did a large amount of work there, took everything possible into consideration, and ultimately forced Chiang Kaishek to accept the proposal by his two generals. On December 25, Chiang was freed, and flew back to Nanjing. The Xi‘an Incident was so peacefully settled.
The peaceful settlement of the Incident put an end to the internal war which had lasted for ten years, and accelerated the formation and development of the national united front for the anti-Japanese drive. Moreover, it showed that the co-operative relationships between the Communist and Nationalists arrived at a new stage. It marked a great turning point in modern Chinese history.
In the year of 1946 the KMT government had a “National Rejuvenation Pavilion” built near the crevice where Chiang Kaishek had hidden himself in the Incident. It was also called “Vital Energy Pavilion”. After the national liberation it was renamed “Catching Chiang Pavilion”. Close by the pavilion stands a wooden board which carries a brief introduction to the Xi'an Incident. Iron chains and rings in the crevices east of the pavilion, by which visitors can climb up to take a look at Chiang Kaishek‘s shelte
r.
Up the winding path east of the Five-Room-Pavilion you will catch sight of a bridge-like construction. It shines regularly with a myriad of evening sun rays both in summer and autumn, and looks very much like rainbow. So it has the name of the Hovering Rainbow Bridge.
Located on the Xixiu Ridge (the West Embroidery Ridge) of the Lishan Mountain, the remains of the beacon tower of the Western Zhou Dynasty seem easy to identify.
The beacon tower was mostly built at the top of the mountain to give border alarm in ancient times. It was constantly under special control. Once the enemies were pressing on towards the border, the beacon tower began to take effect: it was made to smoke in the daytime while set on fire at night.
The story goes that Bao Si, Queen of the Western Zhou dynasty was highly honored, yet she never cracked a smile. King You tried many ways to put a smile on her face, but he failed over and over again. He “called his court band to toll bells and beat gongs”, and she pulled a long face. Then the band were asked to “play the bamboo flute and strings” and she remained displeased. Afterwards, “maids of honour served wine, festively singing and dancing,” and she did not let out a smile at all.
“You don't like music! What on earth are you fond of?” the King asked.
“I nearly have a liking for nothing. But I can still well remember I liked to give ear to the sound of tearing a piece of coloured silk when I was a child. It was clear anf melodious,” she replied. King You said in excitement, “That is very simple. How come you didn't let me know it earlier?”
Thus he ordered the officially appointed property manager to offer coloured silk, and made fresh and energetic maids of honour to tear it into pieces. Hundreds of bolts of coloured silk were utterly torn, but Bao Si remained unmoved.
“Why didn't you let out a single smile then?” he asked.
“I have never smiled so far, ” the Queen replied.
The King tried over and over again, but failed repeatedly, and in the end he gave orders, “Anyone both in and out of court who can amuse Bao Si will be awarded one thousand pieces of gold.”
Afterwards Guo Shifu, a treacherous court official came and offered advice: “Set the beacon tower on fire and fool your sovereign rulers.” That night the King and Queen reached the Lishan Mountain by carriage, and gave the order. In the split second the flames of the fire lit up the sky ad the sovereign rulers moved their troops immediately to the Lishan Mountain. There they found nothing but that the King and Queen enjoyed drinking festively. The King then dispatched his bodyguard to inform them that “Everything should have been all right. I have just been joking with you.” When they got this, they looked at each other in blank dismay, and left disappointed. Sure enough, Bao Si burst into laughter, stroking her hands when she
noticed all the troops come in vain and go noisily. Accordingly, Guo Shifu got a prize of one thousand pieces of gold. Later on King You did so more often than not. In 771 B.C. Quan Rong (a then minority tribe) staged an armed rebellion against the Western Zhou Dynasty. King You ordered urgently to set the beacon tower on fire, but all the sovereign rulers remained unmoved. Consequently King Yu was killed, and Bao Si was taken away. The Western Zhou dynasty vanished. Herein come the Chinese idiom “A single smile costs one thousand pieces of gold” and “The sovereign rulers are fooled by the beacon fire.”
u ordered urgently to set the beacon tower on fire, but all the sovereign rulers remained unmoved. Consequently King Yu was killed, and Bao Si was taken away. The Western Zhou dynasty vanished. Herein come the Chinese idiom “A single smile costs one thousand pieces of gold” and “The sovereign rulers are fooled by the beacon fire.”