Qujiang Pool Park in Xian
Qujiang Pool Park Facts
Qujiang Pool Park, also called the “Qujiang Pool Relics Park, is located in southern suburbs of Xi'an Qujiang ruins scenic zone, north of Datang Furong Garden, south of Emperor Qin Mausoleum ruins, covering 1,500 acres. The park was designed by Zhang Jinqiu, a famous architect in China. She aimed to rebuild the royal garden of ancient China and made it a recreation area in Xian. Opened on July 1st, 2008, it has become a popular scenic spot by its natural beauty and abundant history.
Chinese Name: 曲江池遗址公园
Type: Nature & Parks; Pool Park
Address: Southeast Xi'an, 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the Bell Tower (the city center of Xi'an)
Best Seasons: All year around
Recommended Visiting Hours: about 3-5 hours
Opening Hours: Whole day
Ticket: Free
Why is Qujiang Pool Park so Special?
- Qujiang Pool Park is renowned as the first grand landscape and garden type relics park integrating historical cultureecological garden, landscape, amusement and tourism in northwest China and reproduces landscape andlayouts of Qujiang District characterized by ” overlapped green forest and matched verdant water” (绿林叠嶂,碧水相衬).
- In history, Qujiang Pool was once the most famous scenic spot in Chang’an (the name of Xi’an in ancient China), a royal garden since the Qin Dynasty (221BC – 207BC).
- Qujiang Pool Park is connected with the Tang Paradise in the north and the Mausoleum Site of the Second Emperor of Qin in the south.
Brief Introduction of Qujiang Pool Park
This beautiful site on the edge of a large pond, has housed a royal garden since the Qin dynasty (- 221; – 207). The Tangs built a park where everyone had access, royal family, dignitaries and people. The architect Zhang Jinqiu wanted to revive the old royal garden and create a place of recreation for the population of the city; It delivered the park in 2008. It is not an ambitious park for tourism: it is mainly a family park that surrounds a large pond, which can be circled on a monorail or on a small train. It offers many possibilities for recreation: walk around the lake, crossing the lake on a lookout, small cultural exhibitions, small museum of archaeological excavations, boat tours, carts, fishing, tea house, visit of an island connected to The walk by a bridge. There are many beautiful buildings around the lake: waterfront lodges, covered corridor, Yuejiang tower.
In history, Qujiang Pool was once the most famous scenic spot in Chang’an (the name of Xian in ancient China), a royal garden since the Qin Dynasty (221BC – 207BC). Later, in Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), Qujiang Pool has become a public recreation area. The Royal families, dignitaries and citizens usually went here.
Main Attractions
Walking through the west gate of the park, the first thing you see is the pool, which covers an area of 500 mu (82 acres). Feeling the gentle breeze in the park, one can head south and there is the House in the Woods. There are nine houses named after the tunes to which Song poems are composed. In the houses, Shaanxi opera, leather silhouette shows and Fengxiang clay sculptures are presented. One of the buildings is a small museum, in which the discoveries of archeological excavations of Qujiang ancient ruins are exhibited.
The Qujiang Pavilion (曲江亭) is by the lake. From the pavilion you can see another scenic spot, the Jiangtandieshui. It is a tiny waterfall which naturally divides the pool into two parts. Go south from the Pavilion, two reed marshes are ahead, which you can walk through on a wooden landing stage.
A small island was designed with some houses and galleries for tourists to have a rest. You can also go fishing there. You can reach the island from a wooden bridge on the east bank. The last scenic spot is the traditional Chinese style Changguan Teahouse. Have a cup of tea and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river. You can really feel the history of Xi’an here.
At the end of the landing stage is the Yunge Pavilion, where you can rent a boat and take a visit on the lake. To the south is the Willow Dam, a long dam with willows on both sides. At the end of Willow Dam, the Yuejiang Tower (阅江楼) is situated in the south of the park, where you get a bird’s-eye-view of the park and can have a rest. Going north from the Yuejiang Tower you see a house with small pavilions off its winding corridor: this is the House on the River.
How to get to Qujiang Pool Park
Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)
If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to the Qujiang Pool Park in Xi’an in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.
Independent Traveler
- By Bus:
1. Take bus No. 22, 161, 212, 609 or Qujiang Tourist Bus and get off at Qujiangchi Yizhi Gongyuan (Qujiang Pool Park) Station.
2. Take bus No. 22, 212, 224, 224 (branch), 270, 504, 801 or Qujiang Tourist Bus and get off at Qujiangchi Diaoduzhan Station. The stop of 212 and 801 is separated with others. From both stops, walk north along South Xinkaimen Road for around 3 minutes. Then turn west and walk around 500 m (547 yd). Enter through the southeast gate.
3. Dang-dang Trolley Sightseeing Bus
Dang-dang Trolley Sightseeing Bus has set a route to connect Qujiang Scenic Area and some other famous tourists attractions like Bell Tower which operates from 18:00 to 20:00 with a fare of CNY 50. - By Taxi:
1.The distance between Xi’an Railway Station and Qujiang Pool Park is about 11 km (7 mi). The estimated taxi fare is CNY 30.
2.The distance between the Bell Tower and Qujiang Pool Park is about 9 km (5.6 mi). The estimated taxi fare is CNY 20.
Useful Travel Tips
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Special Features: Wide vision, Money- saving, hydrophilic property.
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There are some other tourist spots around the Qujiang Pool Park, for instance the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Da Ci’en Temple, Tang Paradise, Qujiang Polar Ocean Park, Cool Cave Heritage Park, and the Mausoleum of Huhai (the successor of Emperor Qin Shi Huang).
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Suggestions: Buses available, taxis is not needed, better to bring food and drinks.
- Qujiang Sightseeing Light Rail
It provides tourists a chance to have a bird view of Qujiang area on a 47-minute ride. Tourists can buy the ticket and get on the light rail from Qujiang Pool Park, Tang Paradise or the north square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.Ticket Price CNY 80 Operating Hours Monday to Friday: 12:00 – 16:00
Saturday & Sunday: 12:00 – 18:00
Nearby Attractions
- Tomb of Huo Qubing
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Tang Paradise
- Temple of Eight Immortals
- Qinling Wildlife Park
- Chongyang Palace in Huxian
- Zhaoling Mausoleum
- South Wutai Mountain
- Caotang Temple in Huxian
- Xiangji Temple in Xian
- Xianyou Temple Museum
- Xingjiao Temple
- Taiping National Forest Park
- Zhuque National Forest Park