 Xianyang
The city of Xianyang is located in the central part of Guanzhong Plain,
25 kilometers west of Xi'an. It was made the capital of feudal China after
the country was unified for
the first time in history. The city is 10,213 square kilometers in
area and has 1,585 places of historic interest. These include such major
historical sites as the Qianfo Pagoda, the ruins of Xianyang during
the Qin Dynasty, the Shunting, the Changling, the Hanling , the tomb
of Princess Chang Le, and the tomb of Yang Gull Fei. These historical
relics are valuable data for the study of Chinese history.
Qianfo Pagoda
Also known as the Iron Pagoda, it is in Beidu Town,
15 kilometers from Xianyang. The octagonal, cone-shaped pagoda has ten
stories and stands at 30 meters. It is exquisitely cast and of high
artistic value.
 The
Maoling
It is the resting place of Emperor Wu Di of the Western Dynasty in Maoling
Village of Xingping County, nine kilometers from Xianyang. It is the
largest tomb with the most funeral objects of the royal court of the
Western Han Dynasty. The cemetery is encirled by a city wall of 430.87
meters from east to west and 414.87 from south to north. The wall's
foundation is 5.8 meters wide. Inside the wall are halls for offering
sacrifices, the tomb, and houses for imperial maids and tomb guards.
The Qianling
It contains the remains of Emperor Gao Zong and Empress Wu Zetian of
the Tang Dynasty. The tomb is on Mount Liangshan, 45 kilometers from
Xianyang. Originally, the cemetery had an inner wall and an outer wall
with watchtowers perching on top of each of the corners and large stone
sculptures. The tomb is flanked in front with 61 stone statues of the
chieftains of minority groups and foreign envoys attending the funeral
of Emperor Gao Zong. |
