I’ve now arrived at Huaqing Pond (or Huaqing Hot Springs) located at the Foot of Lishan Mountain 35km East of Xi’an in Shaanxi, China :

In Chinese, “Hua” means “Flower” & “Qing” means “Pure or Clear” - Huaqing Pond (or Huaqing Hot Springs) was part of the Tang Dynasty Palace which was 1st built during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1045-256BC) & called Li Palace - at the Foot of Lishan Mountain - a branch of Qinling Range that divides North & South of Shaanxi.

In the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC), a Stone Pool was built, & it was enlarged during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). And during the Tang Dynasty, the Palace was enlarged by Emperor Taizong, & thereafter a Walled Palace was built around Lishan Mountain by his Successor; Emperor Xuanzong in 747AD - then known as the Huaqing Palace or Huaqing Hot Springs (cos of the Hot Springs there, or Huaqing Pond).

Here’s my Huaqing Pond (Huaqing Hot Springs) Admission Ticket costing 70RMB (Yuan) - but I need not pay cos it was already included in my Mysterious Silk Road Tour Package with China Express Holidays, Singapore :

With over 3000 & 6000 years of history of the Palace & Hot Springs respectively - Huaqing Pond is now one of China’s Hundred Famous Gardens, & a National Cultural Relic :

I’m now entering Huaqing Pond (Huaqing Hot Springs) :

What a beautiful tranquil place inside Huaqing Pond (Huaqing Hot Springs) - No wonder Tang Dynasty Emperor Xuanzong would spend Winter times here in luxuries in the company of his favourite Concubine Yang Guifei -  one of 4 most beautiful Chinese Beauties - The Four Great Beauties in Ancient China………….

Led by our Xi’an Chinese Tour Guide, we’re advised to hop on the Huaqing Pond Buggy Ride (at an additional small sum of 5 or 10 RMB each) for our tour around this huge Palace site  :

It’s really very enjoyable & cooling riding & sightseeing Huaqing Pond in our Buggy & now we’re getting off for more exploration & walking…………

Standing at 1256m tall - Lishan Mountain is covered with Pines & Cypresses & looks very much like a Dark Green Galloping Horse from a long distance away - thus it’s called Lishan Mountain, cos “Li” means “A Black Horse” in Ancient Chinese, & “Shan” meaning “Mountain”!!

We’re now visiting some of the Historical Ponds & Pools built during the Tang Dynasty period here at Huaqing Pond (Huaqing Hot Springs) - first looking at Guifei Pond which is also called Crabapple Pool or Lotus Bathing Pool - built specially for Lady Yang Guifei :

We next visit Lotus Flower Pool - also known as Nine-Dragon Bathing Palace built for Emperor Xuanzong :

We’re now walking towards the warm & boiling Hot Springs of Huaqing Pond…………

These Hot Srpings have a flow of 113 tons of water per hour with a constant temperature of 43 Degrees Celsius, & they contain rich minerals & organic materials that have therapeutic effects on the skin suitable for bathing & even for treating diseases such as Dermatitis, Rheumatism, Arthritis etc…………….

Here’s “Qinshan Dong” in direct translation from the below Chinese Words for the Hot Springs Source - meaning “Golden Sand Hole” cos of its Golden yellow color :

We next visit Star Pool which was built for Emperor Taizong in 644AD during the Tang Dynasty :

Now, we’re looking at Shangshi Pool :

Haha, looking at the historical Pools & Ponds & imagining them filled with the finest warm soothing Hot Springs (that never dry up till now after 6000 years!!) coming directly from Lishan Mountain in which the Royal Family bathed make us feel that the Ancient Chinese really knew how to enjoy life!!

Now, we too finally get to have a touch & feel of the Huaqing Hot Springs…………..

See, here’s where Tourists like myself gets to touch the natural Hot Springs out of a beautiful Stone carved Lotus Flower………….

We’re now using the Toilet - the same Imperial Toilet that was used for the Royal Family during the Tang Dynasty :

And guess what we just found in the Imperial Toilet Pavilion - APPLE Trees!! YES YES making all of us so excited & happy!! Still remembering my first sight of a real Apple Tree when I visited Perth in Australia many years ago with my Family heheh!!

Ahahahah & since this morning everybody has been saying how pretty I look today in this outfit, & they especially like my black Trousers which is of colored “Chinese Characters” design (with black knots at the bottom sides)!!

Well, I shall now pen off with my following most lovely Huaqing Pond (Huaqing Hot Springs) Souvenir - guess Lady Yang Guifei Me needs a Lady Yang Guifei Kitchen Apron back home in Singapore when she’s cooking huh hehheheh!!!