Baoji
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Baoji (宝鸡; Pinyin: bǎo jī) is a prefecture-level city in southwest Shaanxi province, China. It has a population of 3,670,000 according to the 2001 Chinese census, making it the 25th largest city in China, and a surface area of 18172 km². The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills, Baoji is in a valley opening out to the east. Its location is strategic: it controls a pass on the Tsinling Mountains between the Wei Valley and the upper Han River.
Founded early in the Tang dynasty, it is now a large industrial center. Railways first reached Baoji in 1937 and have been key to its modern growth. Baoji is also considered the gateway between western and eastern China since most trains from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an pass through here on their way to Gansu, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Tibet (Lhasa). Baoji County also has Fa Men Si (Famen temple) which is home to one of Buddha's finger bones. The Baoji area was also the home to the legendary Yandi, one of the Han Chinese forefathers. His tomb is located in the southern part of the city and his temple is located in the North.
People who are interested in the Three Kingdoms of ancient China can visit Zhuge Liang's Memorial Temple, about 20 km from Baoji. To get to the temple, take the bus from Baoji XinJianLu Bus Terminal to Gaodian, then transfer to taxi. Taxi fare to the temple from Gaodian is about 20-30 renminbi varying with seasons. Also Tai Bai Shan (Taibai mountain) has some still-remaining traces of roadways built during the 3 kingdoms periods, all generally unusable due to decay, but amazing to see because they were built by making wood plank bridges into the side of the mountain.
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