Tang Paradise, Xi’an – Tickets, Opening Hours, highlights, and Tips

Tang Paradise (Datang Furongyuan, 大唐芙蓉园, Tang Furong Garden) located in the Yanta District of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China, occupies an expansive 1,000 acres, with 300 acres of its area covered by water. Situated to the southeast of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, it meticulously recreates the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty’s royal gardens on the site of the original Furong Garden. Tang Paradise stands as China’s premier cultural theme park, offering a comprehensive showcase of the flourishing Tang Dynasty’s architectural and cultural heritage.

At Tang Paradise, visitors can explore a variety of attractions, including a replica of the Tang imperial palace, traditional gardens, a grand musical fountain, and performance stages. The park is home to several cultural activities, such as calligraphy, painting, tea ceremonies, and traditional music and dance performances.

The park also offers a range of dining options, including restaurants serving Tang-style cuisine and various snack vendors. Visitors can also shop for souvenirs at the many gift shops throughout the park.

Table of Contents

• Basic Information
• Location and Transportation
• Highlights of Tang Paradise
  • Grand Musical Fountain
  • Purple Cloud Pavilion
  • Cultural Activities
  • Caixia Long Corridor
  • Lu Yu Tea House
• Map of Tang Paradise
• Performance Schedule and Locations
• Photography Spots and Tips
• History of Tang Paradise (Furong Garden)
• Vlog about Tang Paradise
• Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
• Other Palaces in Xi’an

Basic Information

Location and Transportation

Tang Paradise is situated in the Qujiang Scenic Area, which is a historical and cultural district in the southern part of the city. The park is adjacent to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-known Buddhist pagoda and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bus: Take bus NO. 22, 24,146, 157, 161, 212, or 307, get off at Datang Furongyuan Nanmen Stop (South Gate of Tang Paradise), and walk about 50 meters to the east to reach the southeast gate of the park.
Take bus No. 22, 23, 24, 44, 146, 189, 212, 224, 307, 526, or 609, get off at Datang Furongyuan ximen Stop (West Gate of Tang Paradise), and the west gate of the park is right in front of you

Subway: Take subway line 4, get off at Datang Furongyuan Station (Tang Paradise), and walk about 150 meters to the north to reach the Yuyuanmen of the Park

Highlights of Tang Paradise

Grand Musical Fountain

The grand musical fountain at Tang Paradise is one of the largest fountains in Asia, spanning over 1000 square meters. The fountain is synchronized to music and lighting effects, providing visitors with a stunning visual and auditory experience. The water display features intricate patterns, including traditional Chinese designs, and can shoot water up to 80 meters high. Visitors can watch the fountain show from various viewpoints, including the waterfront area and the elevated viewing platform.

Purple Cloud Pavilion

Nestled at the heart of Tang Paradise, the Purple Cloud Pavilion stands as the park’s most iconic and expansive traditional structure. This architectural masterpiece comprises a central main building, four corner pavilions, along with numerous connecting corridors, auxiliary rooms, and grand gateways. What adds to its charm is the graceful arch bridges that link the main pavilion to the corner pavilions. The Purple Cloud Pavilion encapsulates the essence of Tang Dynasty aesthetics and culture, providing visitors with a captivating glimpse into this rich historical era.

Cultural Activities

Tang Paradise offers a range of cultural activities that provide visitors with a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the Tang Dynasty. “Pursuing Dream in Tang Paradise”, for example, is a grand water dance and light show presented by Tang Paradise. This spectacular performance is a fusion of “Tang Dynasty culture and charm” and draws inspiration from the “Qujiang Feast,” a unique theme rooted in the era. With a focus on the visual and the theme of dreams, the show seamlessly blends technology with historical culture, creating a mesmerizing experience of light and shadows, accompanied by boat rides, to transport the audience into a dreamlike world.

Caixia Long Corridor

The Caixia Long Corridor is one of the key structures in the Tang Dynasty royal park, Furong Garden, initially constructed during the peak of the Tang Dynasty. When Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty renovated Furong Garden, the corridor became as renowned as the Ziyun Tower. The Caixia Long Corridor comprises the Golden Pavilion, the Jade Pavilion, and a long corridor stretching 270 meters. It serves as a cultural story corridor reflecting various aspects of women’s lives in the Tang Dynasty and is the ideal spot for enjoying the view of Furong Lake and gazing at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The corridor features two charming and uniquely designed pavilions, named Golden Pavilion and Jade Pavilion, symbolizing auspicious phrases such as “golden and jade marriage,” “gold and jade overflowing,” and “golden boy and jade girl,” representing people’s longing for beautiful love and a happy life.

Lu Yu Tea House

Named after the revered tea sage Lu Yu, Lu Yu Tea House features a traditional Chinese courtyard architectural style with interconnected rooms, pavilions, and corridors, seamlessly blending stone, bamboo, flowers, and water elements. The tea house combines tea ceremonies with a relaxing tea-drinking experience, with each architectural unit situated around open water courtyards connected by winding corridors and painted bridges. Surrounding the tea house is a collection of exquisite tea utensils, modeled after the tea implements discovered in the Famen Temple’s underground palace in 1987. These replicas, enlarged to approximately 8–10 times their original size, showcase the court tea culture and highlight the differences between Tang Dynasty tea practices and modern tea drinking.

Map of Tang Paradise

Recommended Route:

1. Entry (17:00): Enter through the South Gate (Jiutian Gate).
2. Tang Poetry Gorge: Explore this area, especially if you’re a fan of poetry.
3. Qujiang Hu Store: Head to the Hu Store to catch the Silk Road Music and Dance performance at 17:30. It features interactive elements and is quite entertaining.S
4. hinu Pavilion: Visit this pavilion, known for its misty, fairy-tale ambiance, which is great for photography.
5. West Gate: Make your way to the West Gate to watch the Dream of Tang Dynasty Parade at 18:30.
6. Follow the Welcome Parade: Join the parade as it moves through the park.
7. North Square of Purple Cloud Pavilion: End the parade at the North Square, where you can enjoy the ultimate Dream of Tang Dynasty performance, which concludes at 18:50.
8. Third Floor of Purple Cloud Pavilion: Head to the third floor for the drum performance at 19:00, which ends at 19:35. It’s a spectacular show worth watching.
9. Photography: Take advantage of the sunset and colorful sky for beautiful photos.
10. Luyu Tea House: Arrive at the tea house for the Tea God Chronicle performance at 19:55.
11. Exit: If you’re not interested in night photography, you can exit through the West Gate.

Performance Schedule and Locations

Photography Spots and Tips

Ziyun Tower:

• Main Plaza: The area in front of the main building is ideal for capturing grand architectural shots.
• Red Column Corridor: This corridor next to the tower is reminiscent of the Daming Palace with its striking red columns, making it a great backdrop for photos.

Qujiang Hu Store:

• Lantern Wall: The lanterns on the wall create a vibrant and traditional atmosphere, perfect for capturing the essence of Tang Dynasty decor.
• Market Umbrellas: The layers of colorful umbrellas in the market area make for an engaging and colorful background.

Long Corridor:

• Corridor Views: This is one of the most photogenic spots in the park. Capture the entire length of the corridor, and you’ll find people in traditional costumes, adding to the Tang Dynasty ambiance.

Lakeside:

• Water’s Edge: While photographing the long corridor, make sure to descend to the lakeside. The reflections and surrounding scenery offer a unique and beautiful perspective.

Exit Route:

• Additional Spots: On your way out of the park, there are other noteworthy locations such as the Shinu Pavilion and the Flag Pavilion, which are also worth capturing for a complete experience.

History of Tang Paradise (Furong Garden)

During the Qin Dynasty, the Qijiang area, with its natural beauty of alternating lowlands and hills, was developed into the famous imperial park known as Yichun Garden, becoming an important part of the Royal Hunting Park, Shanglin Garden.

In the third year of the Kaihuang period (583 AD), Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty officially moved to the new capital. He renamed Qijiang as “Furong Garden” after making initial modifications. With this transformation, Qijiang reemerged as a royal garden under its new name, Furong Garden, and became closely connected to the capital city of Daxing. Its water flowed into the city, serving as a source of water for various districts in the southeast of the city.

During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Huang Jun carved various water features in the Qijiang Pool. The practice of drinking and enjoying the scenery along the Qijiang River, a tradition dating back to the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, was introduced to the palace gardens, infusing the area with a cultural spirit and laying the foundation for the development of Tang Dynasty Qijiang culture.

In the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong carried out extensive expansions of Qijiang, bringing it to unprecedented heights and achieving the pinnacle of its garden construction. Within the imperial park, Furong Garden, Xuanzong constructed various buildings, including Purple Cloud Pavilion, Caixia Pavilion, Linshui Pavilion, Shui Palace, Mountain Pavilion, Penglai Mountain, and Cool Hall. He also built the夹城 (a walled corridor) from Daming Palace to Xingqing Palace, stretching 7,960 meters long and 50 meters wide. Under Emperor Xuanzong’s expansion, Furong Garden’s palaces and pavilions flourished, and the garden architecture of Qijiang reached its zenith, with cultural activities reaching their peak.

Vlog about Tang Paradise

Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews

Food Options: Inside the park, you’ll find a variety of food options including bubble tea, snacks, and fast food. While the prices might be slightly higher than outside, they are reasonable and offer convenience for visitors.

Best Photo Spots: Tang Paradise offers numerous picturesque spots perfect for photography enthusiasts:

• Purple Cloud Tower and Red Pillared Corridor: The color coordination between the red pillars and yellow lanterns creates a stunning backdrop.
• Rainbow Corridor: This is the most popular photo spot, known for its vibrant colors and picturesque setting. Capture the entire corridor and pavilions from the waterfront for panoramic shots.
• Hall of Beauties: The area in front of the Hall of Beauties, along with the corridors on both sides featuring a red door, provides an ideal background for photoshoots.

Ideal Timing: It’s recommended to visit Tang Paradise in the late afternoon. You can catch the 3:00 PM performance, and afterward, continue exploring as the park lights up in the evening. The illuminated park at night beautifully showcases the splendor of the Tang Dynasty, offering a mesmerizing experience.

Other Palaces in Xi’an

Xingqing Palace

Daming Palace National Heritage Park

Huaqing Palace and Hot Springs