A friend from America arrived Saturday morning and we've been on the go exploring Xi'an and the surrounding area.  We began with some of my favorite spots around Xi'an and of course the Terracotta Warriors.  We then went to Huaqing Palace and Hot Spring situated at the northern foot of Mt. Lishan.  The Hot Spring is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) and Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).  The palace has a history of 3,000 years and the hot spring a history of 6,000 years!  Even though it's winter, it was still very beautiful.  I will plan to go back later this spring when everything is blooming and maybe even soak in the hot spring. 

The Famen Temple is 120 kilometers west of Xi'an and dates back to the Han Dynasty and is regarded as the ancestor of pagoda temples.  It has not only been home to Buddhist Monks, but also provided shelter to the homeless caused by the war at the end of Sui Dynasty.  We had blue skies and a warm day to explore the vast area.  

Huaging Palace and Hot Spring

Famen Temple