Mount Li 骊山

About Mount Li

Its paths connect wooded slopes with shrines, the Beacon Tower and memorials to the 1936 Xi’an Incident. Bingjian Pavilion marks the mountainside story of Chiang Kai-shek’s capture, while the Laojun and Laomu temple areas add a religious dimension. This is a hill walk above an established palace attraction, with climbing between features rather than a level extension of the gardens.

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, King You of the Zhou dynasty (周幽王) was slain by the Quan Rong (犬戎) at the foot of Mount Li in 771 BCE, together with Duke Huan of Zheng, marking the collapse of the Western Zhou dynasty. The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇) lies at the mountain's northern foot.

Mount Li rises to 1,302 meters (4,271 feet) as part of the Qinling range, on the south side of Lintong district about 30 kilometers east of central Xi'an. Also known as Xiuling (绣岭), it is counted among the eight scenic spots of the Guanzhong Plain, popularly said to 'shine like a beacon in the evening sunlight.'

According to local tradition, the mountain's name stems either from its resemblance to a black steed or from the Black Steed Tribe once said to have lived there, and it is linked to the goddess Lishan Laomu, worshipped alongside Nüwa as having repaired the wall of heaven from the mountain.

What to look for

• Bingjian Pavilion and the mountainside setting associated with the Xi’an Incident.
• The Laojun temple area and Beacon Tower along the hill’s sightseeing routes.

The surrounding area

An outlying city district containing the emperor's mausoleum and Terracotta Army; an excursion with its own transport and visiting plan.

Location & getting there

Getting to Mount Li

Approach through the Huaqing Palace area at 3 Huaqing Road in Lintong.

• The operator names Huaqingchi station on Metro Line 9 as the palace approach; check the mountain route and its access arrangements before climbing.