Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom
» Yinchuan, Ning Xia

西夏王陵

Xixia Wangling

The Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom are located on the eastern slope of the Helan Mountain Range, 30 kilometers from the western suburbs of Yinchuan and just to the south of the Gunzhong Pass. Since June 1972, nine imperial tombs and 253 lesser tombs have been unearthed, which are as grand as Ming Tombs in Beijing. With a total area of more than 50 square kilometers (19.3 square miles), it is unique among royal burials. The layout is patterned after the celestial bodies. In 1998, the tombs were designated as one of the state protected key historical relics. Later, they were designated as a state class scenic spot, becoming a well-known scenic spot and historic place and resort for travelers.

Western Xia Kingdom

The Western Xia Kingdom (1038 - 1277) was founded by a nomadic group Qiang in the 11th century with its capital in Xingqing (today Yinchuan City) and was defeated by Genghis Khan in Yuan Dynasty in 1227. The Western Xia Kingdom Dynasty existed for about 190 years in history but left few recorded materials about their culture and architecture achievements, although it had contributed a lot in the economic, cultural and social developments in the western China. So what it left for the following generation are all mysteries. Its Imperial Tombs reflect the past glories culturally and militarily.

The oriental pyramids

The Royal Tombs of Western Xia has almost been destroyed completely into ruins at the time by the Mongolia cavalry. The relics left over on the present site mostly are in conic shape, which are often called by foreign travelers as "the oriental pyramids."

It is one of the key historical relics protected by the state. These edifices cover an area measuring 10 kilometers from north to south and 4 kilometers from east to west, and are a magnificently crumbling sight, by day or night. Its establishment is as large and spacious as that of the Ming Tombs in Beijing.

Zhao-mu burial system

The Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom adopted the zhao-mu burial system (the father is zhao, son is mu while grandson is zhao again.). East line and west line are formed from south to north with zhao on the left and mu on the right. Each imperial tomb is an individual and integrated group of architectures, sitting north and facing south in a rectangle.

The scale

The tombs were originally created by the founder of the Western Xia Kingdom (1038 - 1237), Li Yuanhao, who built over 70 tombs, one for himself, a number for his relatives and more to be left empty, presumably against theft.

The Western Xia went on to last through around 12 kings, so that now there are nine main tombs left (being rebuilt) and 140 annex tombs containing various important personages, relatives, concubines or empty spaces.

Each tomb, due to the rise and fall of the topography, is a complete construction, covering an area of 100,000 square meters, and composed of watchtowers, turrets, walls of niches of deities stone tablet pavilions, external and internal cities the hall of presenting offerings, and escalated tomb terrace.

The main tomb

Excavation has been completed on one main tomb and on four of the annexes. The main tomb is believed to be that of Li Yuanhao, and all the tombs have a stairway or sloping path down to their coffin pits.

And more than 100 relics have been unearthed such as gold decorative fittings, gilded silver fittings, bamboo carvings, pearls, bronze armor plates, iron tools, and pottery and porcelain vessels.

On the ground, were found seated stone carvings, railings with carved images of dragon, sutra house, color-glazed zoomorphic ornaments with stone carved patterns, etc. Looking at the 1.52-meter-high green color glazed eagle zoomorphic ornaments, one can imagine the magnificence and grandeur of the tomb architecture at that time.

Mysteries

There are mysteries yet to be unveiled. Floods in Helan Mountain Range are numerous but somehow the area of the Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom is left untouched. Also, there are 8 or 9 stone kneeling statues unearthed with sticking teeth, glower and plump breast with unknown significance and function.

Attractions around » Yinchuan, Ning Xia

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Historical Relic

Historical Relic

Mausoleum

Mausoleum

There are mysteries yet to be unveiled. Floods in Helan Mountain Range are numerous but somehow the area of the Royal Tombs of Western Xia Kingdom is left untouched. Also, there are 8 or 9 stone kneeling statues unearthed with sticking teeth, glower and plump breast with unknown significance and function.



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