Qianling Mausoleum

Website: http://www.tangwenhua.com
Address: Qian County, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province
Tel: T+86 29 35510222
Email: tang_qianling@163.com
Hours: 8:30-18:00
General admission:
102 yuan (March - November)
82 (December - Feburary)
Public transportation:
Bus No 1, No 2: Qianling Bus Stop

Mount Liangshan, beautiful and majestic, is the location of the joint burial of the Gaozong Emperor (r. 649-683) and his wife - China's only female emperor Wu Zetian (r. 690-705). Built on the highest of the three peaks of the Mount Liangshan, the mausoleum was designed like a city surrounded with inner and outer city walls. A 537-stair case leads from the front gate of the inner city all the way to the beginning of the corridor that stretches to the tomb tablet of the Gaozong Emperor elaborating his achievements.
The corridor is flanked by pairs of stone statues, one half of each pair on each side, depicting winged horses, ostriches, horses, and civil and martial officials mounted out of respect for the deceased ruler as well as to ward off evil spirits. Auxiliary tombs of the Qianling Mausoleum include those of the two heirs apparent, three princes, four princesses, and eight high-ranking court officials. Colossal numbers of cultural relics have been excavated from them. The most fascinating are tomb murals now well preserved in the Shaanxi History Museum.