About 80 kilometers west of Xian situated on Liangshan Hill, Qianling was the joint tomb of Emperor Tang Gaozong (Li Zhi, 628 A.D.-683 A.D.) and Empress Wu Zetian (624 A.D.-705 A.D.), the only Empress in Chinese history.

Located on Liangshan, Qianling Tomb was built in 684 AD. According to the records the inner city, about 240 square meters, followed the rectangular layout of Chang'an city with four gate on each side named clockwise: the Phoenix in the south, the Tortoise north, the Black Dragon east and the White Tiger west. The city comprises the inner city and the outer. Many splendid buildings such as dedicatory halls and gate towers were built.

Stone Carvings

Ifyou stand at the southern approach to the mausoleum you can appreciate the original Tang layout and design. If you start from the southern approach, which is between two prominent small hills, a scared avenue lined by animal and human statues leading all the way to the tombs is Qianling's most impressive feature, creating an awe-inspiring effect. From distance, the hills greatly resemble a pair of women's breasts, incurring the tale that Emperor Tang Gaozong had them constructed to honor the natural beauty of his wife.

Among the exquisite carvings of the Tang, first there comes two winged horses galloping and then two vermilion birds like ostriches. Five pairs of saddled horses come next, each with a groom. The most noteworthy is ten pairs of guardian generals with very large heads, wear long-sleeved robes and hold the hilts of long swords.

Qijie Bei (Tablet of Seven Elements)

A tablet west to the Phoenix Gate consists of seven joints, which symbolize the Seven Elements (seven essence of the world) - the Sun, the Moon, Metal, Wood, Water, Earth, and Fire. The tablet 6.3 meters high, 1.86 meters wide and 61.6 tons weight was built to record Gaozong's political achievements and military exploits. The pedestal was engraved with animal figures. The inscription is a hand of Emperor Zhongzong and composed by Emperor Wu Zetian. The gold filed characters can still be discerned now.

Blank Tablet

To the east of the Phoenix Gate is the Blank Tablet 6.3 meters high, and 98.9 tons weight. The sides of the tablet were carved with figures of dragon. On the top part of the tablet were carved eight oysters intersecting each other. Placing a tablet with no word, before an emperor's mausoleum, has never been found before in China.

61 Kings

Northof the two ruined towers is a remarkable collection of 61 stone figures, now headless. The inscriptions on the backs of these figures present that they are actual foreigners who came to the Chinese court in the 7th century for Tang Gaozong's funeral. Some were envoys of central Asian countries and others were barbarian chiefs. It appears that during the Tang, China had close relationship with neighborhood countries. Dressed in close-sleeved clothes, wide belts round their waists and boots on their feet, the figures prayed with hands cupped before their chests obviously appear exotic features. Their faces feature high noses and deep-set eyes. The inscriptions on the back are unrecognizable due to weathering. Only two can be discerned coming from Iran and Afghanistan.

The tombs is large in scope with a circumference of 40 kilometers, and 17 satellite tombs of princes, kings and high ministers such as the Tomb of Crown Prince Zhanghuai, the Tomb of Crown Yide and the Tomb of Princess Yongtai.

Qianling Museum 1 kilometers away from the tomb exhibit large collections of excavations.

Admission: 31 (RMB)