Xian Taoism Tour: Taoism Culture Travel to Ba Xian An Monastery

Tour Code: XA13

Xian Taoist Experience

The statue of Lao Tzu

Ba Xian An Monastery, also called Ba Xian An Palace (Temple of the Eight Immortals), is located at the downtown area of Xi'an City (Address: Changlefang Street, Dongguan Area). Travelers can take bus No. 102, 43, 27 or 203 and get off at the bus stop of Jishiguai. The site can be accessed after crossing the Gengxin Road from the stop. The monastery was reportedly built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and was repaired many times during the following times. The current monastery covers an area of 19 acres and consists of three courtyards. It is the largest Taoist monastery in Xi'an and is praised as the key culture relic (Admission fee: CNY3.00 net per person; Opening hour: 9:00-17:30; Contact No for tourist service: 029-8323 7562/ 8248 0994)

After a half day tour at the monastery, take a bus No 203 to Chengnan Coach Station to connect a coach to Huxian County (Coach ticket: CNY7.50 net per person). The bus journey takes around 1 hour. Upon arrival at Huxian, take a taxi to Chongyan Palace, a venerable Taoist court where Wang Chongyang, the ancestor of Taoism culture, used to cultivate and was buried. The highlights of the scenic area are Jiaoyinshi (Footprint Stone), Yuxianqiao (Encountering Immortals Bridge) and Huosirenmu (A tomb where a living person lived in). (Admission fee: CNY10.00 net per person; Opening time: 8:00-18:00 in summer, 8:00-17:00 in winter; Contact No for tourist service: 029-8490 6200). If there is available time, the nearby Thatched Temple is a nice destination, where there is a famous sight called mist of Thatched cottage temple, one of the eight famous scenic spots in Guanzhong Plain.

God statue dedicated in Taoist Temple

On the next day, Mt. Tianzhu Forest Park is recommended to continue the Taoist tour. Mt. Tianzhu, 210 kilometers from Xi'an, is located in Shanyang County. It is a famous scenic area not only for splendid Taoism culture but also the breath-taking natural beauty.

Take a coach from Xi'an coach station (Address: the opposite side of the railway station exit) to Shanyang. The driving will take around 3 hours and bus ticket costs CNY26.00 net per person. Take a taxi from the county to the Mt. Tianzhu Forest Park with around half an hour. The current park occupies an area of 42 square kilometers (1058 hectares) with more than 60 scenic spots available for visiting (Admission fee: CNY30.00 net per person; Opening time: 7:00-18:00 in summer, 10:00-16:00 in winter; Contact No for tourist service: 0914-883 1362).

More Related Xian Tours:

Trip to Yangling: one day to Yangling, window of Agricultural Modernization in China

Yaozhou Kiln Travel: visit Mt.Yaowang, Yaozhou Kiln, Yuhua Palace and Huangdi Mausoleum

Trip to Xian Suburb: Optional One Day Trip to the Outskirt of Xian

Questions & Reviews

Apr. 8,2008 15:13 Reply

Ms.Emma said:

I have been dreaming to visit the Terracotta Army for a long time, when finally come to the site, I was so excited about it. I am arrested by the historical background behind the emperor and it was just so amazing to see the statues, of which no two are alike.

Qin Shi Huang Emperor was a great historical figure, who unified the six districts of China to be one country and the name China comes from him. He unified the country, enforced one written language, one monetary system etc. But he was extremely ruthless. His great feat was unifying China at the cost of many, many lives. The most intriguing thing was that, as the tour guide told me, the farmer who made the original discovery now works for the Museum. But it was a pity that he wasn''t there that day. He was an illiterate farmer when he first found the statues. Now he is sort of a celebrity. It is said that the only words he knows how to write is his name. If you buy the book, he will sign it for you for free.

The terra-cotta army was beyond my expectation. I didn''t expect the terra cotta armies to be housed in a large building that looked like a modified airplane hangar. But it does makes sense, a kind of good way to protect the dig site somehow, I feel. Many of the statues were destroyed shortly after Qin Shi Huang''s death and have been restored. In the back of the building, you can see where they are working on restoring more of them. There are 3 pits in the Museum for terracotta warrior figures on show. Pit 1 is the largest one and with the most things to see. Every pit has their own characteristic. Listen carefully to your guide, or you would get any anything after touring that.

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