Naked Sculpture at Huaqing Palace Triggers Online Debate

A sculpture portraying a bare-chested female figure at the Huaqing Palace scenic area in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, has ignited heated online debate in recent days, after some netizens labeled it "indecent."

The artwork, commonly known as Yang Guifei Bathing, depicts the famed Tang Dynasty (618–907) consort and has been part of the Huaqing Palace site for decades. Critical posts about the sculpture quickly attracted tens of thousands of views and comments, with some users arguing that the exposed upper body is inappropriate for a public tourist attraction and inconsistent with their perception of Yang Guifei's classical image.

In response to the controversy, staff at Huaqing Palace told a reporter from Xinkuai Newspaper, who contacted the site as a visitor, that the sculpture was created by Pan He, a renowned Chinese sculptor and professor at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. The work was officially installed in 1991, and its design was approved by local cultural authorities at the time. According to the staff, the sculpture was intended to enhance the historical ambiance of Huaqing Palace as a former imperial garden.

They added that nude or semi-nude figures have a long-standing tradition in Chinese art. Examples can be found in Han Dynasty murals, stone carvings and bronze mirrors, as well as in relics from the Mogao Caves, where partially or fully nude figures reflect the artistic styles and social aesthetics of specific historical periods.

The scenic area said it has previously received similar complaints from the public and has reported the matter to higher authorities. It is currently awaiting further guidance.

Local media noted that the sculpture was originally placed near Jiulong Lake and was relocated in 2005 to its current position beside the Royal Hot Springs Ruins Museum.