Huaqing Palace, one of Xi’an’s most iconic attractions, is steeped in rich history. The palace is not only famous for its stunning architecture and hot springs but also for its connection to several significant events in Chinese history. These include its origins dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, its golden age during the Tang Dynasty, and its role in the historic Xi’an Incident of 1936. Let’s take a journey through the three key historical chapters of Huaqing Palace that define its legacy.
1. The Origins of Huaqing Palace: Zhou Dynasty
The story of Huaqing Palace begins over 2,000 years ago during the reign of King You of Zhou (周幽王), who is infamous for the “Fire Signal to Fool the Lords” incident. King You built the first version of the palace, called the Li Palace (骊宫), as a retreat for leisure. It was situated at the foot of Lishan Mountain (骊山), a location famed for its natural hot springs. To ensure that his palace was hidden from view and secure, King You also constructed a beacon tower (烽火台) on Lishan Mountain, which is now part of the scenic area we know today as Huaqing Palace.
King You’s reign was marked by political instability, and to distract and amuse Bao Si, his beloved concubine, who had a deep affection for seeing the fire signals (beacon fires) used in times of military alert, King You ordered that the beacon towers across the kingdom be lit in a false alarm. These signals were typically used to warn of an impending enemy attack.
In one such incident, King You purposely set off the beacon fires as a prank, causing the surrounding states to mobilize their forces in preparation for an imagined attack. However, when the false alarms were revealed, the neighboring states were outraged. This act of deception weakened the credibility of the kingdom’s defense system.
The turning point came when a real invasion was launched by the Xirong tribes (西戎) against the Zhou kingdom. When King You sent out the beacon fires again, no one took them seriously, believing it to be another false alarm. As a result, the kingdom was caught off guard, and King You’s reign was soon brought to an end. The Xirong forces attacked and captured the capital, and King You was ultimately overthrown.
2. The Golden Age: Tang Dynasty Glory
Huaqing Palace reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty, especially under the reign of Emperor Taizong (唐太宗). In 644 AD, the Tang Emperor built the Tangquan Palace (汤泉宫) within the complex to harness the medicinal powers of the hot springs. However, it was during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗) that Huaqing Palace became a symbol of imperial luxury. Emperor Xuanzong frequently visited the palace with his beloved concubine, Yang Guifei (杨贵妃), to bathe in the warm springs and relax in the magnificent surroundings.
The palace became a haven for poetry, music, and leisure, and it was here that famous poets like Bai Juyi (白居易) wrote celebrated verses about the palace’s hot springs, including the well-known lines from his poem Changhen Ge (长恨歌): “In the spring cold, the imperial consort bathed in the Huaqing Pool, where the hot spring water gently washed her soft skin.” This immortalized the beauty of the Huaqing Hot Springs, which at the time were luxurious bathing facilities.
Despite its beauty and splendor, Huaqing Palace’s rise to prominence was abruptly interrupted by the An Lushan Rebellion (安史之乱), which marked a turning point in the Tang Dynasty’s fortunes.
3. The Hidden History: The Xi’an Incident (1936)
While most visitors associate Huaqing Palace with its ancient past, the site also witnessed a major political turning point in modern Chinese history. In December 1936, the Xi’an Incident (西安事变) unfolded at the palace. General Zhang Xueliang (张学良) and Yang Hucheng (杨虎城), two key military leaders in the region, used Huaqing Palace as the backdrop for their daring political move.
On the morning of December 12, Zhang and Yang detained Chiang Kai-shek (蒋介石) at the palace, demanding that he end the Chinese Civil War and unite with the Communist Party to resist the Japanese invasion. The first shot of this historic event was fired in the Five-Room Hall (五间厅) of Huaqing Palace. Today, the bullet holes in the walls of the Five-Room Hall remain as a testament to this critical moment in Chinese history.
In the wake of the incident, Chiang was forced to flee, escaping out a back window and taking refuge on a large boulder on Lishan Mountain. He was later found by search teams, brought back to Xi’an, and eventually agreed to cooperate with the Communist Party. The Xi’an Incident marked a turning point in the Chinese Civil War and paved the way for the Second United Front between the Nationalists and the Communists, leading to China’s united effort against Japan during World War II.
In 1946, a pavilion called “Zhengqi Pavilion” (正气亭) was erected near the boulder to commemorate the event. After the Chinese Revolution, it was renamed “Zhu Jiang Pavilion” (捉蒋亭) and later, in 1986, it became the “Bingjian Pavilion” (兵谏亭), in honor of the military rebellion that reshaped China’s political landscape.