Yangling Mausoleum

Yangling Mausoleum is the Mausoleum of Liu Qi (188 -141 BC), the fourth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, and his queen. It is located at Zhanjiawan Village, about 20 kilometers north of Xian City. It was built in 153 BC and covers an area of 20 square kilometers.

Some people call the tomb lying in such a position as head on Phoenix Mountain, feet on Old Dragon Pool with Golden Lamp Temple in the right hand and Shi'er Mountain in the left hand. Therefore the scenery nearby is really beautiful and attractive. This mausoleum is the best preserved king tomb among the Qing tombs with the largest area within the country.

Construction of the mausoleum took 28 years, beginning in 153 B.C. and ending when the empress died. The mausoleum covers an area of more than 10 square kilometers - nearly six kilometers east to west, and up to three kilometers north to south. The tomb complex is symmetrically constructed with the sacred road from east to west. Yang Ling mausoleum, standing at the western end of the sacred road, is about 32 meters high with circumferences of 670 meters and 238 meters at the bottom and top respectively. It looks like a topless pyramid. Beside it is the tomb of the Empress. In ancient China it was the custom that an Empress, although she held much power, be buried separately from her husband.

Outside Pits Exhibition Hall covers an area of about 7,850 square meters. It has been modernized to exhibit ten outside pits surrounding the emperor's tomb but does not devalue the look of the mausoleum. To protect the culture relic, the pits are encased with toughened glass to create the similar environment as it was before. Suspended corridors made of glass make it more convenient for visitors to be able to take a closer look. Through the glass on the right, on the left or under foot, visitors can see pottery warriors, animals, chariots and horses, and the archaeologists excavating. A kind of imaging technique concerning with optical illusion has been applied in the museum. Through the illusive characters and scenes, the life of Liu Qi, the anecdote of Empress Wang and the archaeological discoveries in the mausoleum are presented.

Currently, Yangling Mausoleum is still in the process of excavations. This means that with each future visit there will be more and more for you to see.