Huaqing Palace

This guide to Huaqing Palace in Xi'an follows Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his consort Yang Guifei, tracing a pledge the poet Bai Juyi later wrote in the emperor's voice: to be two birds flying wingtip to wingtip. Historical accounts say the emperor returned to this hillside dozens of times over his reign, rebuilding the palace around her so the two of them could bathe together in the same hot springs. Look for the separate stone basins built for each of them near your feet, hers shaped like a begonia flower and fed by the same spring still rising from the mountain behind you.