Shaanxi Travelogue: A Red Journey and a City of Cuisine
We took a train from Beijing on March 30, 2011, and after a night's journey, arrived in Yan'an at around 7 a.m. on the 31st!!
At 7 a.m., the urban area of Yan'an was still quiet. The guide said that work here usually starts around 8 or 9 a.m.!!
Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall is located on the east bank of the Yan River in Baota District, about 1 km from the city. It was first established in January 1950, originally at the Nanjiao Jiaojichu site, making it one of the earliest revolutionary memorial halls built after the founding of the People's Republic of China. In 1954, it was moved to the former site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Yangjialing and renamed "Yan'an Museum". In 1955, it was relocated to the courtyard of the former revolutionary site at Fenghuangshan in the city and renamed "Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall". In June 1973, it was moved to its current location in Wangjiaping. Above the main entrance of the exhibition hall hangs a red plaque with the hall's name inscribed by Guo Moruo during his visit to Yan'an in 1971.
After visiting the memorial hall, we went to Zaoyuan for a visit!
Zaoyuan, also known as "Yan Garden", was originally the manor of Gao Shuancheng, a warlord in northern Shaanxi. During the Agrarian Revolution, it came into the possession of the people. After the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China arrived in Yan'an, construction began in 1941 and was completed in 1943. A total of more than 20 cave dwellings, over 80 brick-tile houses, and one auditorium were built. In 1943, Mao Zedong, Zhang Wentian, Liu Shaoqi, and others moved to Zaoyuan one after another, making it the location of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Yangjialing Revolutionary Site is the former site of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, located 2 km northwest of Yan'an city. From November 1938 to March 1947, Mao Zedong and other central leaders, as well as the Central Committee's organs, resided here. During this period, the Central Committee continued to command the anti-Japanese war behind enemy lines and led the Liberation War, directed the Great Production Movement and the Rectification Movement, and convened the Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art. The Central Auditorium was built here in 1942, and from April 23 to June 21, 1945, the Seventh National Congress of the Party was held there.
After visiting the Yangjialing Revolutionary Site that afternoon, we drove to Hukou Waterfall and stayed overnight at a hotel by the waterfall. Originally, we were supposed to stay at the Hukou Waterfall Hotel, but due to the ice flood in February, the Yellow River's ice had surged into the second floor of the hotel, shattering the glass, and it was still under repair!
The next morning, we visited Hukou Waterfall, then drove to Xi'an, stopping along the way to visit the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor!!
Hukou Waterfall is a famous waterfall on the Yellow River in China. Its surging and majestic momentum symbolizes the spirit of the Chinese nation. The Yellow River Hukou Waterfall is located in the Yellow River bed of the Jin-Shaan Gorge, 35 km east of Yichuan County and 45 km west of Ji County. It has become the world's largest yellow waterfall, renowned both at home and abroad for its magnificent power. It borders Hukou Town, Ji County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province to the east, and Hukou Township, Yichuan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province to the west.
The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor is the tomb of Xuanyuan, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, and is known as the First Mausoleum of China. Located at the top of Qiaoshan Mountain, 1 km north of Huangling County, it is a key national cultural relic protection site and a holy land for pilgrimage tourism. The Yellow Emperor was a great tribal leader in the late primitive society of China. His surname was Gongsun, but because he grew up by the Ji River, he also took the surname Ji. He once lived at Xuanyuan Hill (now Xuanyuan Hill in Xinzheng County, Henan Province) and was named Xuanyuan. His ancestral home was the Youxiong clan, so he was also known as Youxiong. Because he revered the virtue of earth, which is yellow, he was called the Yellow Emperor. He was born at Shouqiu in Shandong, died at Jingshan in Henan, and was buried at Qiaoshan in Shaanxi. The Yellow Emperor is recorded in history for his great achievement of first unifying the Chinese nation. He sowed grains and grass, vigorously developed production, created Chinese characters, invented clothing, built boats and chariots, invented the compass, established arithmetic, created music, and developed medicine. He is the founding ancestor of ancient Chinese civilization.
After visiting the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, we continued driving toward Xi'an, passing by Nanniwan on the way, the place where the 359th Brigade reclaimed wasteland during the Great Production Movement!! That night we stayed in Xi'an!
Huaqing Pool, also known as Huaqing Palace, is renowned both at home and abroad for its 3,000-year history as an imperial garden and 6,000 years of hot spring use. It is located at the northern foot of Lishan Mountain in Lintong District, Xi'an, 30 km west of Xi'an, with Lishan Mountain to the south and the Wei River to the north. It is an ancient Chinese imperial palace famous for its hot spring pools. Rulers of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties regarded this Fengshui treasure as their pleasure retreat. It is also famous for the love story of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Yang Yuhuan.
It was a bit overcast, so it was misty. Huaqing Pool was where Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Minghuang of Tang bathed. There is also a statue of Yang Yuhuan, quite plump in figure!
After visiting Huaqing Pool, we headed straight to the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang!
Located in Lintong District, Xi'an, about 35 km from the city center, it is part of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng). In 1987, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The construction of the mausoleum lasted 37 years from the time Qin Shi Huang ascended the throne until his death, taking a total of 38 years to complete. The tomb is grand in scale and majestic, with inner and outer walls. The southern part is the center of the mausoleum. The inner wall is square with a circumference of 2,525.4 m, and the outer wall is rectangular with a circumference of 6,294 m. The current tomb mound is a square cone, 515 m from north to south at the base, 485 m from east to west, and 55 m high. The entire mausoleum area covers 2.18 million square meters. There are large-scale palace buildings within the mausoleum.
After visiting the Terracotta Army, we headed for Mount Hua!! That night we stayed at a Mount Hua Hostel at the foot of the mountain!!
Early the next morning, a light drizzle made our climb uncertain. For safety, we took the cable car up and down, only reaching the North Peak, the place of the famed 'Swordsmanship Contest on Mount Hua'!!
Mount Hua is one of China's famous Five Great Mountains, with an altitude of 2,154.9 m. It is located in Huayin City, 120 km east of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. To the north lies the flat Wei River Plain and the roaring Yellow River, and to the south the Qinling Mountains. It is a granite mountain on the northern side of the watershed ridge of the Qinling range. With the ever-changing adornments of nature's weather, Mount Hua's myriad forms are vividly portrayed, making it a National 5A Tourist Attraction.
We spent two hours ascending and descending Mount Hua without stopping, then headed back to Xi'an after a meal!!
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a famous tourist attraction in Xi'an. Built in the third year of Yonghui of the Tang Dynasty (652 AD) by Xuanzang to house Buddhist scriptures, the pagoda has seven stories and a total height of 64.5 m. It is regarded as a symbol of the ancient capital Xi'an. On January 17, 2011, Xi'an Giant Wild Goose Pagoda - Tang Paradise Scenic Area was officially approved as a National 5A Tourist Attraction. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a famous tourist attraction in Xi'an, built in the third year of Yonghui of the Tang Dynasty (652 AD) by Xuanzang to store scriptures. The pagoda has seven stories and a total height of 64.5 m, regarded as a symbol of the ancient capital Xi'an.
After visiting the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Square in the afternoon, we didn't visit the Daci'en Temple but returned to the hotel!
Xi'an City Wall is located in the central area of Xi'an, rectangular in shape, with a height of 12 m, a base width of 18 m, a top width of 15 m, and a total circumference of 13.74 km. There are four main gates: Changle Gate (East), Anding Gate (West), Yongning Gate (South), and Anyuan Gate (North). As of 2004, the Xi'an City Wall had 18 gates. Starting from the north and going clockwise, they are: Shangwu Gate, Anyuan Gate, Shangde Gate, Jiefang Gate, Shangjian Gate, Shangqin Gate, Chaoyang Gate, Zhongshan Gate, Changle Gate, Jianguo Gate, Heping Gate, Wenchang Gate, Yongning Gate, Zhuque Gate, Wumu Gate, Hanguang Gate, Anding Gate, Yuxiang Gate.
The Xi'an City Wall is well-preserved; you can walk or ride a bike on top!
The red journey was basically completed; now it was time for the world of cuisine! In Xi'an, that's the famous Drum Tower Snack Street. We spent one morning wandering there!
After wandering around the snack street for half a day, we headed home. The return journey was from Xianyang Airport. The guide said that from the moment we entered the airport area until the car reached the terminal, it took almost half an hour to drive—so much space there!!
