Maoling Mausoleum Xian

Maoling Mausoleum, Xian

Maoling Mausoleum, located about 45 km (27.9 miles) west of Xian city, is the tomb of Emperor Wudi, the fifth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206B.C.-24A.D.) Maoling Museum is one that focuses predominately on the history of the Western Han Dynasty. It combines the cultural relics and ancient constructions within beautiful garden settings. The unearthed relics exhibited in the Museum are mainly from the Mausoleum of Emperor Wu, the Tomb of Huo Qubing and the grand Stone Carvings. They provide further evidence to the great extent of creativity and the extensive range of skills the ancient crafts people of China possessed during that period.

Emperor Wudi ordered the building of the mausoleum in 139 A.D., and after 53 years of construction it finally was completed. At that time, many halls and rooms were also situated around the mausoleum. Even a county, in which about 277,000 people were living, was founded to the southeast of the mausoleum. Countless treasures were also buried in the mausoleum to accompany the great emperor. After thousands of years, however, only the hill-like mausoleum still exists. Now the mausoleum is 46.5 meters (152.6 ft) high, with a length of 39.5 meters (129.6 ft) from east to west and 35.5 meters (116.5 ft) from south to north. Around the mausoleum there are vestiges of a wall that surrounded it. Today the vestiges of the eastern, western and northern watchtowers can be clearly seen. Among the tombs of the Western Han Dynasty, the Maoling Mausoleum was the largest in dimension, took the longest time to be built and had the richest funeral objects

Just one kilometer (about 0.6 miles) away from Maoling Mausoleum, the Museum covers an area of 121,486 square meters (about 30 acres). In some 4,100 cultural relics, 14 national-level treasures have been discovered. Some of these truly unique and precious cultural relics such as the Gilt Bronze Horse, the eaves tile with characters and the stone tiger sculpture have now been exhibited in many countries and regions. In its two main exhibition halls you can see these rare cultural relics, and learn all about the life and achievements of Emperor Wu. You can also see several remains of construction sites, pentagon water pipes, cobbled roads and other building installations from the Han Dynasty. You can also get to see general information regarding politics, the economy, and both military and foreign affairs that were relevant at that time in history. There are also various activities and performances especially prepared for the interest of visitors.

Admission Fee: CNY 12

Bus Route: Take the tourist bus which is to Fufeng County at the Pan Village Bus Station located in the Yuxing Gate