Xiyue Temple

The "Little Forbidden City" around Xi'an, with beautiful photo opportunities, don't squeeze into Guangren Temple anymore. The Xiyue Temple at the foot of Mount Hua in the west is known as the "Little Forbidden City of Shaanxi". It is a relatively niche tourist spot! It was established in the Han Dynasty and has always been a key place for emperors to worship the god of Mount Hua. The Xiyue Temple covers a large area and is a palace-style ancient building in the Ming and Qing architectural styles, very grand and majestic. Here you can overlook the main peak of Mount Hua, which shines under the blue sky and white clouds. There are not many tourists, so it's quite quiet and leisurely. Taking photos in Ming-style or cheongsam and other national styles will be very outstanding~ Strongly recommend to friends who like to take pictures of red walls. Enter from the main gate, visit each hall, and then return from the right city wall, the scenery is absolutely beautiful! You can overlook the entire panorama of the Xiyue Temple~ The ticket price is 15 yuan, and the student ticket is 7.5 yuan. If you buy a package ticket with Mount Hua, you can get a free ticket~ Recommended play time: 2-3 hours. Opening hours: 8:00-18:00 Self-driving: Navigate to "Huashan Xiyue Temple", about 130 kilometers from Xi'an, it takes 1.5 hours. High-speed rail: Xi'an North--Huashan North, you can arrive in 30 minutes!

🏯🏯The first time I stepped into Xiyue Temple, I was shocked by its grandeur! This is a temple dedicated to the god of Mount Hua, the Western Great Emperor, located on Yue Temple Street, 5 kilometers north of Mount Hua. Did you know? This temple was originally built during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, and later it became the sacred place where emperors of successive dynasties worshipped the god of Mount Hua! 😮😮 🎉🎉The layout and grandeur of Xiyue Temple are just like the Forbidden City in Beijing, so it is affectionately known as the 'Shaanxi Imperial Palace'. The temple, facing south with its back to the north, has its gate directly facing Mount Hua, as if you can feel the sacred aura coming towards you. 🌄🌄 🏰🏰The architectural complex is divided into six spaces, and walking through it is truly magnificent. The Hao Ling Gate, Wu Feng Tower, Ling Xing Gate, Jin Cheng Gate, Hao Ling Hall, the Sleeping Palace, the Imperial Book Tower, and the Longevity Pavilion—each space has its unique charm. Especially the Wu Feng Tower, which is more than 20 meters high; climbing up and looking at Mount Hua, with the five peaks in clear view, is simply exhilarating! 😍😍 🏛️🏛️The main hall, Hao Ling Hall, is even more majestic, with glazed tiles and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, situated on a broad 'convex'-shaped platform. It is seven bays wide and five bays deep, surrounded by corridors. Emperors of past dynasties often stayed here when they worshipped Mount Hua. The plaques inscribed by Kangxi, Daoguang, and Cixi hanging inside the hall further add to the historical significance. 📜📜 🌳🌳The entire courtyard is filled with lush trees and rugged rocks, full of the charm of a garden. Strolling through it, it's as if you can hear the echoes of history and feel the solemnity and sanctity. 🍃🍃 💖💖If you also love history and culture, then you must come to Xiyue Temple! The beauty here is definitely worth experiencing for yourself! 💖💖

I stayed in Huayin County last night, which was the last stop on my journey home. Huayin County is located at the foot of Mount Hua, 120 kilometers away from the ancient capital Xi'an, and is known as the 'key route of Shaanxi and the thoroughfare of eight provinces.' The terrain of Huayin County is high in the south and low in the north, with picturesque mountains and rivers. It was historically said to be 'the most scenic in Guanzhong region due to its mountain and river landscapes.' 'Established as a town in the Spring and Autumn period, and as a county during the Warring States period,' Huayin County was one of the first counties established in China, with a history of over 2300 years. In December 1990, it was approved by the State Council to revoke the county and establish a city. Now, Huayin County should be called Huayin City. To me, a foreigner, it doesn't matter whether it's a county or a city, or what it's called. What I care about is its history, culture, and scenic spots. Speaking of scenic spots, of course, it refers to Mount Hua. Mount Hua, historically known as 'Xiyue' and elegantly called 'Taihua Mountain,' is one of the Five Great Mountains of China, located within the territory of Huayin City. It connects to the Qinling Mountains in the south and overlooks the Yellow River and Wei River in the north. Since ancient times, it has been known as 'the most precipitous mountain under heaven.' I was just passing by this time and didn't have time to climb the mountain, but I hope to visit it specifically in the future. In terms of historical and cultural aspects, the ancient Xiyue Temple is a representative. Xiyue Temple is a sacred site of the mainstream Quanzhen School of Taoism. In the first year of Yuanguang of the Western Han Dynasty (134 BC), the Jiling Palace was built at the mouth of Huangfu Valley. It was relocated to its current location during the Eastern Han Dynasty, later renamed Xiyue Temple, and became an important site for emperors to worship the god of Mount Hua. The temple complex is grand, and there are many inscriptions within it. The existing inscriptions include the 'Huayue Temple Stele' from the Later Zhou Dynasty, the 'Tang Xuanzong's Imperial Inscription of Mount Hua Stele' re-engraved in the Ming Dynasty, the 'Mount Hua Reclining Map' engraved in the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, with poems and paintings of Mount Hua by famous Tang and Song personalities such as Wang Wei, Li Bai, Du Fu, and Chen Tuan attached at the beginning of the map, as well as the stone plaque inscribed with 'Yue Lian Ling Shu' by Emperor Qianlong, all of which are of immense value. Experts and scholars with a profound background in ancient culture and familiar with inscriptions and steles can come and take a look. Well, it's time to say goodbye to Huayin. Once I pass the Hangu Pass ahead, I will be back in my hometown in Henan, and my heart is already racing home.

Xiyue Temple, located in Huayin City, Shaanxi Province, has a history that can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. It is a sacred site of the mainstream Quanzhen School of Taoism and one of the important Taoist temples of Mount Hua. Emperors throughout the dynasties would come here to worship the god of Mount Hua. Unfortunately, while the visitors to Mount Hua are numerous, very few make their way to Xiyue Temple. When you step into Xiyue Temple, the solemn and majestic complex of buildings almost makes you feel as if you have visited the Forbidden City itself. Transportation: Drive from Xi'an, directly navigate to Xiyue Temple Ticket: 15 yuan for a single ticket, but if you buy the Mount Hua package ticket, it already includes the Xiyue Temple ticket so there's no need to purchase another one If you like taking portraits, wearing Hanfu would be a good choice