Hanyangling Mausoleum

The Yangling Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty, usually known as Hanyangling, is located in Zhangjiawan Village, about 20 kilometers north of Xi'an City of Shaanxi. It is the joint tomb of Liu Qi, a notable emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), and his Empress Wang.

Features of Hanyangling Mausoleum

Hanyangling Mausoleum was built in 153 AD. and occupies an area of 20 square kilometers. It is a magnificent and abundant relic complex that includes the tomb of the emperor, that of the empress, the south and north burial pits, the ceremonial place, the cemetery of human sacrifices and the cemetery of criminals. Hanyang, centered on the emperor's tomb, is arranged and orderly, revealing the strict hierarchical social structure. The Underground Exhibition Pavilion opened in 2006 and is China's first underground museum.

In total there are 86 exterior graves with funerary objects. These pits range in size and length from four meters to one hundred meters. In the 1990s, archaeologists excavated ten outer graves and discovered that they were closed, like wooden boxes. Based on the traces, it was believed that these graves had original columns, separation boards, doors and floor bricks. Additionally, funerary objects unearthed include naked pottery, chariots and horses, weapons, everyday items and a large number of ceramic animals.

Shaanxi is a province rich in cultural relics. At the end of 2011, the province had unearthed 23,453 ancient ruins, 14,367 ancient mausoleums and 6,702 ancient buildings. On May 17, 2012, China launched its first archaeological base at the Hanyangling Mausoleum in order to simulate archaeological work. Now it plays an important role in archeology education, heritage conservation. At the same time, the Shaanxi Cultural Relics Department has taken many heritage conservation measures in recent years, such as creating a simulated archaeological base. All these measures are to reveal the mystery of archeology and offer opportunities to personally participate in archaeological excavations.

Here travelers will have an unforgettable experience. They have an opportunity to play archaeologists to excavate and investigate. When they discover a "ruin" or "relic," experts share knowledge about the treasures, such as their identification, dating, and use. Visitors can not only have fun discovering the relics themselves but also gain historical knowledge.