Baoji travel guide
宝鸡
Baoji travel guide with a day by day itinerary, 6 places with tickets and opening hours, where to eat and stay, and how to get there.
6 places · In the guidebook: pages 659–664
Baoji, Shaanxi Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Baoji in 2 days
- Day 1
- Xi'an/Xianyang→
- Famen Temple→
- Taibai Mountain (overnight on Taibai Mountain)
- Day 2
Things to see
Famen Temple
Famen Temple is about 120 km from Xi'an. Originally called Ayuwang Temple, it was renamed Famen Temple in the early Tang dynasty. It is a historic Buddhist temple and houses a finger bone relic of Shakyamuni Buddha in its pagoda, earning it the reputation of “the ancestor of pagodas and temples in Guanzhong”. In 1981, half of the pagoda collapsed. During its reconstruction in 1986, a Tang-dynasty underground palace was discovered. It measures about 21 metres long and covers 31.84 square metres, and is the largest underground structure found to date that houses Buddhist relics. Four relics and a large number of precious Tang-dynasty cultural relics were unearthed from it. Inscriptions in the underground palace record that the Buddha finger bone relic had been kept in the foundation of the Famen Temple pagoda. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang dynasty once welcomed the relic to Luoyang, and Empress Wu Zetian also invited it to be enshrined in the Hall of Light she had built. The Famen Temple Museum, located on the west side of the temple, displays more than 300 exhibits, including Buddhist scriptures, stone steles, porcelain, glassware, tea sets, ritual objects, gold and silver ware, the eight-layer treasure boxes, and the Hu-gate-throne jade coffin, among other rare treasures.
2–4 hours · ¥100 (peak season), ¥90 (off season)
Honghegu Forest Park (Red River Valley Forest Park)
Red River Valley Forest Park lies in the Red River basin on the northern slope of Taibai Mountain, the main peak of the Qinling Mountains. Its steep mountains, deep stone gorges, verdant valleys, and waterfalls and deep pools with sparkling spray offer ever-changing scenery. Beyond its beautiful natural landscape, the park also has religious and cultural sites such as Xiantong Temple, Jingling Temple, Jade Emperor Pavilion and Guanyin Cliff. Within the park is a Quaternary glacial relic unique to Taibai Mountain, where visitors can see the Glacial Stone Sea without climbing a high peak. Visitors can also admire the Red River Cliffs and Doumu Peaks, which are among the Eight Scenes of Taibai, the Peace Cloud Sea, and “Snow on Taibai”, one of the Eight Scenes of Guanzhong.
4–5 hours · Off season ¥27, peak season ¥54. Scenic area shuttle bus: ¥15 one way.
Guanshan Grassland
Known as the “Little Tianshan” for its beauty, the scenic area combines secluded streams and pools with grasslands and forests. Its vast, open terrain and herds of grazing horses make it an excellent place to fully enjoy the pleasures of the countryside.
¥60
Taibaishan Tang Town
Taibaishan Tang Town is an ancient-style tourist town themed on the culture of the High Tang dynasty. Its buildings have a strong retro character, and there is a new view around every corner. It suits families looking for a relaxing getaway, with flower viewing, mountain scenery, animal feeding and private hot springs, letting you rest your mind in an elegant, peaceful atmosphere.
0.5–1 day
Baoji Bronze Ware Museum
The main building is designed in a distinctive “Five Ding on a Platform” style. It is imposing and innovative, and it condenses the profound meaning of the Western Zhou ding-ritual system. The collection includes over a thousand precious bronze objects, including the He Zun, the Zhe Gong, the Gui of King Li, the Lai Pan, the Qin Gong Bo and the Wei Ding.
1–2 hours · Free
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 659–664. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version