Lishan Mountain in Xian – A Scenic Mountain with Many Historic Sites
Written by Clementine | Updated October 30,2025
The Lishan Mountain (or Mount Li) is a branch of the Qinling Mountain Ranges. Rising more than 1,300 meters above sea level, it towers high on the eastern part of the Guanzhong Plain. If you take a look at it from down below, the mountain, fully grown with green pines and junipers, looks very much like a dark green steed. The character “Li” here means the black horse in Chinese, hence the name of the mountain “Lishan”.
The mountain has a long history. When walking up or down the mountain along the 3,200-meter-long road, you will see many scenic spots of different dynasties along the way. It is also famous for the “Sunset on Lishan Mountain”, which is renowned as one of “The Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong”. Lishan has been designated as one of the first batch of nationally important scenic attractions by the state.
Content PreviewBoasting numerous cultural relics and natural landscapes, Mount Li once served as a royal garden for several dynasties, spanning the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. It has witnessed the rise and down of many dynasties and the historical progress of the nation. The mountain was the place where King You of the Western Zhou period once lit up the beacon fires to please his favorite concubine, Bao Si.
The Mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty was erected at the foot of Lishan Mountain, leaving behind the renowned Terracotta Army. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Yang Guifei’s love story happened at the Huaqing Hot Spring at the mountain foot. The infamous “Xi’an Incident” in China’s modern history also unfolded on Lishan Mountain.
If you are not in a hurry, it’s recommended to make a visit to Mount Li after your Xi’an tours to Terracotta Warriors and Horses and the Huaqing Palace.
Essential Information for VisitorsLocation: 3 Huancheng East Road, Lintong District, Xi’an City.
Altitude: 1302 m
Opening hours: 7:00-19:00
Ticket price: CNY 70 per person (Mar. – Nov.); CNY 45 per person (Dec. – Feb.)
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Highlights: historic sites and natural scenery
Recommended for: Nature lovers and history enthusiasts
Best views: Beacon Tower, Laomu Hall, Sunset Pavilion
Cable car tickets: A single trip and a round trip take CNY 35 and 60 from March – November, and CNY 25 and 40 from December – February
Highlights on Lishan Mountain Beacon Tower (烽火台)The “Beacon Tower” is the highest point of Lishan Mountain and also one of the most famous attractions here. In ancient times, the beacon towers are used to transmit wear signals. In the late Western Zhou period, King You once lit up the beacon tower on the mountain to please Bao Si, this farce finally caused the king to lose his kingdom.
The Bingjian Pavilion is an ancient building located at the summit of Lishan Mountain. This is a spot where Zhang Xueliang detained Chiang Kai-shek during the Xi’an Incident, a crucial event in modern Chinese history.
Eastern mausoleum of Qin Dynasty (秦东陵)In February 1986, the ancestral tomb of the first Qin emperor was discovered in Fanjia Village, Han Yu Township, located near the western foot of Lishan Mountain. It has been identified as the eastern tomb of the Qin Dynasty and the tomb of Qin Shi Huang’s predecessors, who were kings and queens, following trial excavation.
Laomu Hall (老母殿)Situated halfway up Mount Li, Laomu Hall is a renovated ancient building that serves as a great location for sightseeing. This temple is dedicated to venerating the Mother of Lishan.
Sunset Pavilion on Lishan Mountain is an ancient building offering great sunset views. At dusk, with the evening glow casting a picturesque scene over Lishan, visitors can overlook Huaqing Hot Spring and the entire Lintong area, which is the famous landscape of “Lishan Sunset”.
Renzong Temple (仁宗庙)Renzong Temple, or Han Terrace Temple, is located at the top of Lishan Mountain at an altitude of 1,302 meters. During the Kangxi period of Qing Dynasty, it got its name because Emperor Kangxi lived on the east and west sides of Renzong Temple. When the observatory was constructed in 1957, the Renzu Temple was scheduled to be destroyed. Thankfully, the locals’ protection prevented its destruction, saving this priceless temple from the Han Dynasty.
Lishan Mountain LandscapeThere are unique features to Mount Li’s formation. Only Mount Li ascended between the Weihe and Ba rivers to create a horde during the period when the ancient crust was undergoing many orogenic processes and the entire Weihe Graben was lowering.
Due to the scattered faults, gullies are spread all over, and rivers of all sizes are formed. There are Han Yu River, Zhiyang Valley, Sanli River, Tong River, Linhe, Wind King Valley, Peony ditch, Tiger ditch, Shiweng Valley, slope ditch, black mouth ditch, Long Ditch, Shahe River, Yuchuan River, Xinfeng River, play River… .
In addition to the beauty of the natural landscape, the lush trees and flowers make the Lishan Mountain vibrant.
Attractions nearby Lishan Mountain Scenic AreaMausoleum of the First Qin Emperor: This is the tomb of Ying Zheng, the first emperor in Chinese history. The mausoleum was built in the layout of the capital of Qin Dynasty. It is located at the northern foot of Lishan Mountain.
Museum of the Qin Dynasty Terracotta Warriors and Horses: Famous as the eighth wonder of the world, there are over 1000 terracotta figurines, over 100 chariots and a large number of weapons unearthed here. It is about 10 kilometers from Lishan Mountain.
Huaqing Palace of the Tang Dynasty:Huaping Palace is the royal hot spring resort in ancient China. Directly backed by Lishan Mountain, the existing architectures are rebuilt in Tang style along the terrain.
How to Get to the Mountain How to Travel aroundTo save energy, you can take the cable car nearby Huaqing Palace at the foot of Lishan Mountain to the core tourists area, Laomu Hall, at the halfway of the mountain directly. It opens from 08:00 to 19:00 in March – November with a ticket price of CNY 35 and 60 for a single trip and a round trip respectively. While in December – February, it operates from 08:00 to 18:30 with a ticket price of CNY 25 and 40 for a single trip and a round trip respectively.
If you are a hiking lover or travel with families, then here are some recommended hiking routes for you to choose based on your needs. During hiking, you can tour the main scenic spots meanwhile appreciating the scenery of Li Mountain.
1. Classic LineRoute: Zhaoyang Gate – Bingjian Pavilion – Sunset Pavilion – Palace of Eternal Life – Laomu Hall – Take the cable car down the mountain – Huaping Palace
Time:4 hours
Distance: 5 kilometers
2. Leisure line (suitable for families)Route: Huaqing Palace – Take the cable car to Laomu Hall – Laojun Hall – Bingjian Pavilion – Walk down the mountain – Sunset Pavilion – Ruins of the Imperial Hot spring of Huaqing Palace
Time: 3 – 4 hours
Distance: 3.5 kilometers
3. Challenging Line (suitable for hiking lovers)Route: Ascend the mountainthrough the small path next to Lintong Museum – Beacon Tower – Shiweng Valley – Scale Stone – Yuxian Bridge – Sanyuan Cave – Huaqing Palace
Time: 5 – 6hours
Distance: 8 kilometers
Best Time to VisitThe best time to visit Lishan Mountain is March – May and September – November. You can see the peaches and forsythias in full bloom across the mountains in spring and the red leaves covering the mountain in autumn. Also the weather is moderate and cool during this time. Do not miss the “Sunset at Lishan Mountain” at 17:00-18:30, when the setting sun bathes the mountain in golden light. The best observation spot is the Sunset Pavilion.
FAQs about Lishan Mountain How long should I spend at Lishan Mountain?To explore Lishan Mountain only, 2 -3 hours is enough. Most tourists will combine it with Huaping Palace, and this tour needs over half a day to one day.
How much is the cable car on the mountain?March – November: CNY 35 for a single trip and CNY 60 for a round-trip.
December – February: CNY 25 for a single trip and CNY 40 for a round-trip.
Are there combined tickets available for Lishan Mountain and Huaqing Palace?The entrance ticket of Huaping Palace already includes the Lishan Mountain.
Is the cable car necessary, or can I hike the entire way? How difficult is the hike?The cable car is necessary if you have an average strength and limited time. But you can also hike the entire way if you enjoy the hiking process. The path is mainly stone steps with a rather steep slope, so it is relatively difficult.
Contact China Xian Tour to Plan a Xian Trip with Lishan MountainLishan Mountain is about 35 km away from downtown Xian, it requires much time to transfer by yourself. China Xian Tour is glad to plan a day trip including Lishan Mountain and Huaping Palace for you and assign a driver to transport you. Of course, we will also arrange a guide to give you detailed explanations about the scenic spot, so you can have a deep understanding of it rather than climb the mountain only. If needed, we can also cover the nearby Terracotta Army to enrich your travel experience. Just contact us right now.
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