Home > China Guide >> Xian Travel Guide >> Maoling Mausoleum

Maoling Mausoleum

Tablet in Maoling MausoleumThe tomb of Emperor Wu of Han - Liu Che (157 BC - 87 BC), Maoling Mausoleum is located about 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) away from Xi'an City. This mausoleum is called ‘the Chinese Pyramid' since it is not only the largest but it also held the richest burial contents of all the mausoleums of Emperors constructed during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), and took the longest time, 53 years, to build.

Liu Che was the fifth Emperor of the Western Han Dynasty. He was a great feudal Emperor who can parallel Emperor Qin Shi Huang - the founder Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221BC - 206BC). During his 54-year reign he exerted himself to make the country prosperous by consolidating and strengthening the unification of many nationalities. With his great talent, he made the Western Han Dynasty's power reach the highest peak and also opened the famous Silk Road.

Surrounded by the city wall, the cemetery is in its self quite square. The city wall is 431 meters (about 1,414 feet) long from east-to-west and 415 meters (about 1,362 Pool and Pavilionsfeet) long from south-to-north. In the center of each wall there is a door. Now the ruins of east, west and north doors are still to be found in well preserved condition. The whole mausoleum is lofty and majesty. It is like a great cone in shape and even resembles a pyramid without its top. It is 46.5 meters (about 153 feet) high and the side length at the bottom, the widest part of the tomb is about 240 meters (about 787 feet). According to historic records, the Emperor Wu used one-third of the taxes to build his tomb and it was filled with an abundant array of burial objects, many of which are now exhibited in Maoling Museum.

Around Maoling Mausoleum, more than 20 tombs now still accompany Emperor Wu. Most of them are the tombs of imperial wives, meritorious ministers and worthy nobles. Here also to be found is the Tomb of Huo Qubing, which is much more famous for its magnificent stone carvings.

Maoling Museum

Stone Statue in Maoling MausoleumMaoling Museum is one that focuses predominately on the history of the Western Han Dynasty. It combines the cultural relics and ancient constructions within picturesque 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. All of these depict the crystallization of human wisdom and experience.

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, and have been viewed with huge enthusiasm. 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 get to see general information regarding politics, the economy, and both military and foreign affairs that were relevant at that time in history. Additionally there is a sculpture exhibition hall that vividly represents the main activities of Emperor Wu. There are also various activities and performances especially prepared for the interest of visitors.