Shaanxi Province is endowed with unique geothermal resources, which covers a large area, has great reserve, high water temperature and excellent water quality. Possessing a long history of geothermal development, Central Shaanxi Plain is also home to renowned Huaqing Pool, East and West Tangyu Hot Springs. Its geothermal production process has been continuously innovated and many technologies have been applied on a large scale. Geothermal energy has made outstanding contributions in serving the goal of “dual carbon” and assisting the construction of a beautiful Shaanxi.

Datong is the second largest city in Shanxi Province and has a long history of geothermal development and utilization. As early as 2,000 years ago in the Eastern Han (25-220) Dynasty, Tangtou Hot spring in Hunyuan County had been discovered and utilized. The earliest record of geothermal utilization for spa happened in Maquanxiang Village of Tianzhen County during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing (1636-1912) Dynasty. In 2020, high temperature and high pressure geothermal fluid was discovered in Tianzhen County and the geothermal well was identified by experts organized by Shanxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources as “the first geothermal well with the highest temperature and largest self-flow found in the central and eastern parts of the mainland, which is of great significance to the energy revolution in Shanxi and even the exploration and development of renewable and clean energy in the whole country”.

Sep. 18: At 8:00 am, we head to Xi’an by taking the high-speed train from Beijing West Railway Station. After lunch, we will inspect geothermal demonstration projects in Xianyang and Xixian New Area. Then we will have a tour to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Built in 648 AD, the Pagoda is one of the first-sited major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level, and a masterpiece of Buddhist architectural art and a boutique of ancient pavilion-style brick towers.

Sep. 19: We shall visit geothermal projects in Lintong District, Xi’an. The project applies cluster well factory technology through “cluster well layout, large-scale construction, resource integration and unified management” and the annual heating capacity reaches 600,000 square meters. It has provided an example for large geothermal heating projects or large and medium-sized cities where well location is unavailable. Following this, we will pay a visit to the Huaqing Pool. It has a 6,000 years’ history of hot spring utilization and 3,000 years’ history of royal garden architecture. Famous both at home and abroad because of the love story of Emperor Tang Xuanzong and his Concubine Yang Yvhuan, the Huaqing Pool is also among the first group of key national scenic spots, a national 5A tourist attraction, and a historically famous royal bath place. After lunch, we’ll have another hotspot Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum. It was listed as one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and called “the eighth wonder of the world” and “one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century”.

Sep. 20: Caotan Living Base Project tops our visit schedule today. The project adopts the domestically first innovated “U-shaped” heat exchange well technology to provide central heating service for 100,000 square meters. Second project to be visited is Clean Energy Renovation Project in Meixian. It utilizes geothermal extraction and re-injection system to heat an area of 3,000,000 square meters. These two projects are followed by a tour to the Muslim’s Quarter, the Bell and Drum Tower. Muslim’s Quarter is a famous food culture block in Xi’an whose hub is located in Beiyuanmen Street. Originally, it’s an official district in the Qing (1636-1912) Dynasty. In the late 1990s, some Hui people rented houses and operated restaurants here, and gradually the place was turning to catering business. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower, located in the city center, were first built during the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty. With a history of more than 600 years, they are the largest and best preserved bell and drum tower of their kind existing in China.

Sep. 21: From Xi 'an North to Taiyuan South by bullet train, after a short rest and lunch, visit Shanxi Shuangliang Group"No. 1 Energy Island Project" in Shanxi transformation comprehensive reform demonstration zone. the project is currently the leading technology, the largest scale, one million square meters of "geothermal + green clean energy" comprehensive application demonstration project, optimized and configured 12 kinds of energy utilization technology. The formation of medium and deep water heat, single well dry hot rock heat exchange and shallow water and soil sources as the basic heat source, phase change heat storage, gas driven absorption air energy, electric driven compressed air energy, gas, gas condensation heat, evaporative cooling and solar photovoltaic, light heat and other sky, ground and underground multi-energy complementary energy systems. After the inspection, take the bullet train from Taiyuan Station to Datong South and stay at Weidu International Hotel.

Sep. 22: In the morning we have Datong Volcanic Group National Geological Park, which possesses both geological and cultural relics. It is a large comprehensive geological park that integrates functions of sightseeing, leisure, science education, scientific research and others. The volcanic group is one of the six famous volcanic groups in China, and also a rare natural heritage in East Asia. There are more than 30 volcanoes known in this Park. Shanxi High Temperature Geothermal Resources Development and Utilization Demonstration Base in Tianzhen County is arranged in the afternoon to understand the research work of the regional high temperature geothermal resources development and utilization.

Sep. 23: In the morning we will tour Datong Yungang Grottoes. The grottos extend about one kilometer from east to the west, and were all carved out of the mountain. The 254 extant grottoes consist of 45 major grottoes and 209 minor grottoes with a carved area of more than 18,000 square meters. There are more than 1,100 shrines and 59,000 sculptures whose maximum height is 17 meters and the minimum is 2 centimeters. The site was listed on the first batch of Chinese key cultural relic preservation units in March, 1961 by the State Council. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on December 14, 2001. After lunch, we will take the high-speed train back to Beijing at 1:30 pm.

Highlights

Shaanxi Province: as an important birthplace of Chinese civilization and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Shaanxi Province also boasts of large-scale utilization of diverse geothermal development technologies.

Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum: its Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are called “the eighth wonder of the world” and “one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century”.

Huaqing Pool: it is among the first group of national key scenic spots, a national 5A tourist attraction, and a historically famous royal bath place.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda: it is a masterpiece of Buddhist architectural art, a boutique of ancient pavilion-style brick towers, and an outstanding representative of Tang culture.

Shanxi Province: one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation, with a written history of 3,000 years, Shanxi Province is praised as the “cradle of Chinese civilization”, and known as the “Museum of Ancient Chinese Culture”.

Datong Volcanic Group National Geological Park: it is one of the six famous volcanic groups in China and a rare natural heritage in East Asia.

Geothermal Sci-Tech Base: the first geothermal well with the highest temperature and the largest self-flow was found in the central and eastern parts of China’ mainland.

Yungang Grottoes: the site was listed on the first batch of Chinese key cultural relic preservation units and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Price

Notes:

1. The registration period is until August 25, 2023.

2. The minimum number in the group is 20. If the number is less than 20 till the deadline, the route will be cancelled. And the organizer will notify those persons at least 7 days before the field trip begins. and refund all the fees collected.

3. If the participant cancels the order from 30 to 20 days before departure, the penalty will be 50% of the total cost of the scientific expedition; 80% from 20 to 15 days before departure; 100% from 15 to the day of departure.

Tips:

1. Please do not purchase items without quality assurance privately, if direct economic losses are caused to guests, guests shall bear the consequences.

2. Please pay attention to your own personal safety and financial security, be sure to keep your ID card (passport) and wallet separately, if the guest misses the flight，train or bus due to his or her own reasons, the guest shall bear all the consequences;

3. If some destination is canceled due to force majeure factors such as weather, or if guests voluntarily abandon the visit, tickets and transportation expenses will not be refunded.

4. Guests p should pay attention to the protection of cultural relics, and if there is any destruction or damage to cultural relics, the guests shall bear the losses caused by themselves.