Mysterious Xixia｜Yinchuan Xixia Royal Tombs

Mysterious Western Xia and Western Xia Royal Tombs in Yinchuan Unveiling the veil of a thousand-year dynasty Western Xia Dynasty: A short but glorious history Western Xia (1038-1227) was a regime established by the Dangxiang people in Chinese history. Its capital was Xingqingfu (now Yinchuan, Ningxia). During its heyday, its territory covered Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi and parts of Inner Mongolia. It called itself the "Great White Gao Kingdom" because it was located between the Song, Liao (Jin), Tubo, and Uighur dynasties. Through military and diplomatic maneuvers, it became an important force on the "Silk Road." However, after the Western Xia was destroyed by the Mongolian cavalry in 1227, its classics, architecture, and culture were systematically destroyed. In addition, the official historical records were brief, and the Western Xia gradually became a "forgotten dynasty" and was shrouded in mystery. Western Xia Royal Tombs: The Unsolved Mystery of the Oriental Pyramids Location and Scale The Western Xia Royal Tombs are located on the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains in the western suburbs of Yinchuan, Ningxia. It is one of the largest imperial mausoleums in China with the most complete ground remains. The mausoleum area is about 10 kilometers long from north to south and about 5 kilometers wide from east to west. It is home to 9 imperial tombs (presumably the tombs of 9 of the 12 Western Xia emperors) and more than 250 tombs for burials. It is known as the "Oriental Pyramid." Architectural Features Unique rammed earth tower-style mausoleum: The main body of the mausoleum is a tall conical rammed earth platform, shaped like a pagoda, which is very different from the square mausoleums in the Central Plains, integrating Buddhist culture and Dangxiang traditions. Mysterious layout: The cemetery is symmetrically distributed along the central axis, including Quetai, Beiting, Yuecheng, Lingcheng, etc., but the specific sacrificial rituals and architectural functions are still controversial. Unsolved mysteries: The construction technology of the royal tombs (such as why the rammed earth has not collapsed for a thousand years), the structure of the underground palace, and the reasons why it has not been looted, etc., still attract archaeologists to explore. Important Discoveries Identification of the "Double Mausoleums" confirmed: Mausoleum No. 6 (originally called "Double Mausoleums") excavated in 1972 is speculated to be the Tai Mausoleum of Li Yuanhao, the founding emperor of the Western Xia Dynasty. A large number of precious cultural relics unearthed include fragments of Western Xia inscriptions, gilded bronze bulls, stone statues of powerful warriors, etc. Xixia script: The Xixia script on the steles in the mausoleum area is the key to deciphering the history of Xixia. This "heavenly book" created in imitation of Chinese characters was lost for hundreds of years and was not reinterpreted until modern times. The tourism and cultural value of the Western Xia Royal Tombs Visiting information Open area: Tomb No. 3 (Tai Mausoleum) and the Western Xia Museum and Art Gallery are the main visiting points. Museum: It houses nearly 10,000 Xixia cultural relics, including Buddha statues, thangkas, weapons, etc., and uses digital technology to restore the history of Xixia. Best season: Spring and autumn (avoid the extreme heat of summer and the extreme cold of winter). Cultural Significance The Western Xia Royal Tombs are a living fossil for studying the politics, religion, and architecture of the Western Xia. Its multicultural integration (Han, Tibetan, Dangxiang, and Uighur) reflects the civilizational exchange along the ancient Silk Road. In 2012, the Western Xia Royal Tombs were included in China's World Cultural Heritage Tentative List. Related attractions in the vicinity Helan Mountain rock paintings: depict the life and beliefs of ancient nomadic peoples, some of which may be related to the Western Xia. Zhenbeibao Western Film City: The filming location of the movie "A Chinese Odyssey", where you can experience the desolate scenery of the Northwest. Xixia Folk Customs Park: Recreates Xixia folk customs with antique buildings and performances. Conclusion The silent earthen mounds of the Western Xia royal tombs tell the story of the glory and tragedy of a dynasty. As the most visible existing relic of the Western Xia Dynasty, it is not only an archaeological treasure, but also a window for people today to touch upon that mysterious history. If you have the opportunity to visit Yinchuan, you might as well walk into this secret place at the foot of the Helan Mountains and listen to the echoes of civilization in the wind and sand for thousands of years.