"Natural Beauty Take advantage of your time in Xi'an to really see what it was like to live like an emperor. About 27 miles outside of Xi'an is the Taiping National Forest Park. The Taiping Palace was built by an emperor in the Sui Dynasty, and the park also served as an imperial summer resort during the Tang Dynasty. Over 5,000 acres in size, the park is home to vast greenery and 12 stunning ponds and waterfalls, including the Rainbow Waterfall, which is the largest in the park. You'll also come by some animal residents, such as golden monkeys, hanging out among the trees. Take the cable car to catch even better sight of the beautiful scenery."