The Huaqing Hot Springs (Nine Dragons Hot Springs) are located about 30 kilometers east of the city of Xi'an. It is at the foot of Lishan Hill, a branch of the Qinling Mountain Range. It is covered with pines and cypresses and looks very much like a black dark green galloping horse from a long distance. In classical Chinese, a black horse was called “Li”, hence the name, Lishan.

It is a famous scenic hot spring spot of Xi'an with a history more than 3000 years and was used by ancient emperors as their imperial villa and excursion center. King Youwang of the Zhou Dynasty built the Lishan Palace here. Emperor Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty built a house and a pool of stone and named them the “Goddess Hot Springs”. Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty expanded the facilities. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty transformed the hot spring wells into pools which were enclosed in the palace rooms, so they are known as the Huaqing Palace or the Huaqing Pools where Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang amused themselves. Lady Yang is one of the four most beautiful ladies in China's history. It is said that various flowers a shame to open just because of her beauty. Lady Yang and Emperor Xuanzong used to often spend their wintertime and take bath in Huaqing Spring Palace. This made the Palace famous very much. "In cold spring months, Lady Yang was granted to take baths at the Huaqing Hot Spring together with the emperor. Her peach cream body gently touched by the smooth hot spring". The poem written by famous poem Bai Juyi in Tang Dynasty indicated the pictures Lady Yang enjoyed the hot springs. From then on, “the Nine Dragons Hot Springs”, “the Chenxiang Hall”, etc. have been additionally built.

The source of the hot springs that flow into Huaqing pool and the Five-room hall, the historical site of the Xi'an Incident, are all situated to the east of the Huaqing Pool. In the area there are four hot springs. They have a flow of 112 tons an hour with a constant temperature of 43℃.And the warm mineral waters, containing lime, sodium carbonate, and sodium sulphate, are still enjoyed by locals and visitors today. The waters are particularly recommended for the treatment of dermatitis, rheumatism, arthritis and muscular pain.

There are numerous classical style buildings at the site and many frescoes decorate the walls here. It is usually very busy, as the story of Yang Guifei is very popular with the Chinese. Today, visitors can bathe in the 43 degree C water. There is a "Hot Springs Bathhouse" which is rather like a private bathroom in a five star hotel. More atmospheric and cheaper too is the communal bathhouse.

Another attraction at the Springs is the Hovering Rainbow Bridge. This bridge reflects the sunset in such a way that it appears to be a rainbow.

The site of Xi'an incident can be seen also inside the Huaqing Palace, known as Double Twelfth incident started by General Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng, in which Chiang Kai-shek was forced to agree the proposal to fight against Japanese invaders. The Xi'an incident took place on December 12, 1936. It was a successful remonstration that laid the foundation for the second cooperative relationship between the Communists and Nationalists. Now in the palace, you can see the Five-room Hall where Chiang Kai-shek stayed temporarily during the incident and the Remonstration Pavilion built near the crevice where Chiang had hidden himself. They have become the witnesses of the history. Now iron chains and rings are available all the way up to the crevice east of the pavilion by which visitors can climb up to take a look at Chiang Kai-shek's shelter.

Located on the Xixiu Ridge of Lishan Hill, the remains of the Beacon Tower of the Western Zhou Dynasty is easily identified. The beacon tower was built at the top of the mountain to give alarm of border attacks in ancient times. Once the enemy presented the border, the signal from the beacon tower would be sent. King You of the Western Dynasty had a palace built in Huaqing Hot Pool and a beacon tower on the top of Lishan Hill. The King had a favorite concubine named Bao Si whom had rare beauty but never smiled. King You tried his best to let her smile, but in vain. One day, one of his ministers suggested that the beacon be lit to make fun of other dukes to make Bao Si smile. Sure enough the trick worked very well. Bao Si was amused to see the dukes mortified and gave a cold smile. But when a real danger threatened the King, he had the beacon fire lit again. The dukes thought that the king was playing the same trick again to please his concubine; no one came to his rescue. Hence the Chinese saying “A single smile costs 1,000 pieces of gold” and “The sovereign rulers are fooled by the beacon fire.”