Guanshan Grass Land, Baoji

Situated in the west part of Shaanxi province, Baoji is an important transportation hub which links northwest and southwest of China, and it is also one of the earliest birthplaces of the Chinese Nation. Natural tourist resources and historical relics abound in the city and around. Baoji has four distinct seasons, so spring and autumn are the best time to tour the area.

It is convenient to take either train or coach from Xian to Baoji. There are two multiple depot trains operating everyday between the two cities at the cost of CNY65.00 net per person on the 1st class soft seat (Train info: D581 07:30/ 08:51 & D587 18:30/19:49). For coach, you can take it from Xian Coach Station near the railway station at the cost of about CNY37.00 net per person.

If you leave Xian in the early morning, you may take the Tourist Bus No. 2 at 08:00 from the railway station square to the Tomb of Concubine Yang Guifei (Yang Yuhuan) for a side trip. The bus journey takes about an hour. Yang Yuhuan was the favorite concubine of Emperor Lishiming, namely Taizong of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Also, she was one of the renowned Four Beauties of ancient China. The story goes that that she was versed in both singing and dancing and her beauty would put the flowers to shame. Concubine Yang was accused of seducing the emperor and bringing calamity to the county and people, so she was forced to commit suicide to save her lover's reputation and imperial power at the age of 38 years old only. Entrance fee for the Tomb of Concubine Yang Guifei is only CNY15.00 net per person. Inside the tomb-yard, you will first see a hall for sacrifice that built in antique style. After going through the front hall, you will find the tomb, which is surrounded with blue bricks as high as three meters. When you finish the visit, you are advised to take a taxi to Xianyang railway station square, where coach to Baoji is available every half an hour. The coach ticket will cost you CNY32.00 net per person. Upon arrival, reserve your accommodation at the nearest 3-star Baoji International Hotel (Add: No.155, Jinger Road, Baoji; Tel: (0917)3249138).

You may start your tour from the only bronze ware museum in China, Baoji Bronze Ware Museum, which locates in the south Gongyuan road. It takes about CNY5.00 net to get to the Museum by taxi from the railway station. It collects a great number of precious bronze wares of Western Zhou and Qin dynasties. The museum opens from 08:00 to 18:00 and the admission fee is CNY20.00 net per person. After that, you can proceed to the Yandi Mausoleum (Add: South side of town, on road to Dasanguan pass; Tel: 0917-3351311; Admission Fee: CNY25.00 net per person.) by taxi and ask for Changyangshan (Taxi fee: about CNY10.00 net). Yandi (Emperor Yan) is one of forefathers of the Han Chinese. Legend has that Yandi did lots of good things in the interest of civilian in ancient times. For example, he taught people farming so that they could have ample food and clothing and he tasted a great number of herbs himself for the sake of people's health. For your information, as the mausoleum is on the top of Changyang Mountain, you are advised to wear comfortable travel shoes since there are many steps for tourists to climb. If you still have spare time for two hours, you may take taxi for about CNY10.00 net to reach Baoji Folk Museum (the former Baoji Museum), where one could see woodcut New Year pictures, paper-cuts, embroideries, straw handicrafts and such kinds of folk artworks with local features (Admission fee: CNY10.00 net per person). 

Baoji Bronze Ware Museum

For the second day and third day, you can visit Guanshan Grassland, which was the main drag in the ancient Silk Road. We suggest you take enough food and warm clothes with you, as there is no place for you to have lunch on the way to and from this scenic spot and it will be a little bit cold in the night. You can take coach from Baoji Coach Station to Longxian County at the cost of about CNY8.00 net per person and the journey takes about 2 hours. From Longxian County, you can spend CNY20.00 net to charter a car with other 5 travelers to Guanshan Grassland (Tips: The whole car is usually chartered at a rate of CNY100.00 to CNY120.00 net; Admisstion fee: CNY40.00 net per person.). One can find the accommodation at the 2-star Luyuan Hotel or Mongolian Tent upon arrival. As its landscape is similar to the Alps, Guanshan Grassland is reputed as the "small Tianshan" with hilly meadow. Besides the beautiful natural scenery, you can also participate the horse riding, grass skiing and other entertainments. Return to Baoji city the same way before noon the next day. If you are still energetic after having lunch at Baoji city, you can have the afternoon free to explore the local people's life at leisure and then take the night train (D588 20:09/21:21) back to Xian. Alternatively, you may get back to Xian by coach directly.