Things to do in Baoji

Walking uphill from the scenic area entrance, you can definitely feel the changing seasons; it truly lives up to its reputation as the watershed between North and South China. It's a pity it was snowing at the summit that day, so we couldn't see much. Maybe I'll come back another time.

Famen Temple is a national treasure. The Famen Underground Palace, guarded for a thousand years, still shines with Buddhist light. The power of faith endures through the ages. The Ming Dynasty people had already discovered the underground palace, but they quietly protected it, allowing the relics to continue to be passed down for centuries, until finally the Buddha's relics saw the light of day again. With Doubao (a local deity), there's no need for a guide. The park is intentionally large; if you're in a hurry, take the sightseeing bus; if you have time, explore on foot. While Famen Temple itself was built later, the pagoda and underground palace are millennia-old relics, and the many rare treasures unearthed there are well worth seeing.

The Baoji Bronze Museum is a treasure trove of Chinese bronzes and a shining symbol of Baoji. I am very grateful for the teacher's wonderful explanation, which allowed me to open the door to history thousands of years ago through these precious national treasures. Seeing these magnificent artifacts fills me with pride as a Chinese person!

The Chinese Stone Drum Park is one of the key tourist and cultural scenic spots in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. It is located on the Stone Drum Mountain, where the Stone Drum, which was praised by Kang Youwei as "China's No. 1 Antiquity", was unearthed. It is adjacent to Yinxiang River in the east, Jifeng Mountain, the main peak of Qinling Mountains in the south, the urban area in the west, and the Weihe River in the north. It covers an area of ​​more than 500 acres and has a total construction area of ​​47,000 square meters. It is a cultural ecological park with the theme of Zhou and Qin history and culture. There are five major areas, Baoji Bronze Museum, Chencang Stone Drum Pavilion, Qin Culture Square, Stone Drum Square, and Jinshi Garden, which integrate site protection, bronze exhibition, stone drum culture display, garden sightseeing, archaeological research and leisure and entertainment, and fully display the profound history and culture of Baoji as the birthplace of Zhou and Qin culture. Through the protection and shaping of natural landscapes, the park has become a collection of the five characteristics of Baoji, Shaanxi, namely, mountain, water, forest, plateau, and city. Through the integration and reproduction of Zhou and Qin history, the park has become a microcosm of ancestral culture and a charming place with both natural and humanistic characteristics. The two iconic buildings of the China Stone Drum Park, Chencang Stone Drum Pavilion and Baoji Bronze Museum, have become the new city coordinates of Baoji.

Rolling green hillsides, cattle and horses grazing leisurely on the grassy slopes, the air fresh and cool, like a mini-Switzerland. Horseback riding and strolls are available, offering expansive and therapeutic scenery. The temperature difference between day and night is significant, so be sure to bring a warm jacket. It's perfect for a short weekend getaway.

The Qinling Mountains can be divided into the Qinling Mountains in a narrow sense and the Qinling Mountains in a broad sense. The Qinling Mountains in a narrow sense are limited to the mountains between the Weihe River and the Hanjiang River in the southern part of Shaanxi Province. The Qinling Mountains in a broad sense start from Kunlun in the west, pass through Longnan and southern Shaanxi in the middle, and end at the Dabie Mountains of Hubei, Henan, Anhui and Zhangbaling near Bengbu in the east. It is the watershed between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. The Qinling Mountains are not only the boundary between the north and south of China, but also the dividing line of the differences in geography, climate and resources between the north and the south. Different climates, different water and soil, different social living habits such as diet, architecture and transportation, have evolved into differences in the overall customs and habits of the society over time. The Qinling Mountains are revered as the dragon vein of Chinese civilization. The main peak, Taibai Mountain, is 3771.2 meters above sea level and is located in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The Qinling Mountains are the boundary between the Guanzhong Plain and southern Shaanxi in Shaanxi Province.

This rare double-underground mausoleum from the late Tang and Five Dynasties period features exquisite brick carvings, murals, end towers, and celestial charts in the underground palace. The artifacts and tomb structure are of great archaeological and aesthetic value, making it a niche and unique destination for visitors.

Wuzhangyuan in Qishan was the final resting place of Zhuge Liang's life. In the autumn of 234 AD, Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of Shu Han, led his army on a northern expedition, stationing his troops here to confront Sima Yi across the Wei River. Ultimately, he "died before achieving his goal," forever freezing the last moments of his life on this loess plateau. The Zhuge Liang Temple at Wuzhangyuan was first built in the Yuan Dynasty, and most of the existing buildings are from the Qing Dynasty. Its most unique layout is that the entire structure faces north, backed by the majestic Qinling Mountains and facing the surging Wei River, symbolizing Zhuge Liang's unfulfilled ambition to "pacify the Central Plains."

During the National Day holiday, cars were allowed to drive in. It was nothing compared to the crowds at Taibai Mountain. I chose to hike to see the largest waterfall, Doumu Waterfall. Even for someone like me who walks slowly, it took about two hours to reach the waterfall.

Huangbaiyuan National Forest Park has two main attractions: Walnut Grove and Dajiangou. The entrances to the two scenic areas are in opposite directions, and the signs at the mountain road junctions are very clear. The sightseeing bus to Walnut Grove costs 20 yuan. The round-trip sightseeing bus to Dajiangou costs 30 yuan and takes you directly to the top of Dajiangou. With its colorful stone beaches, distant mountains shrouded in mist, and layered, colorful forests, the park features mountain streams that flow sometimes gently and sometimes rapidly, and deep, bottomless pools. Walking along the wooden boardwalk, you can enjoy the scenery and stop frequently to take photos. No wonder Dajiangou is known as the "Jiuzhaigou of the North."