Han Yangling Mausoleum 汉阳陵Hàn Yánglíng

Why go to Han Yangling Mausoleum

North of the Wei River, beside the expressway to Xi'an Xianyang airport, lies the tomb of Emperor Jing of Han (r. 157–141 BC) and his Empress Wang, two large burial mounds ringed by smaller burial pits. Start in the underground hall built over ten excavated pits, where glass floors and walkways let you look down on rows of small clay figures, animals and grave goods, then see more finds in the archaeology museum.

The story

The clay figures were made with movable wooden arms and dressed in robes of silk or hemp, or in armour; over two thousand years the wood and cloth rotted away, leaving the armless, naked bodies you see today. The pits have been excavated since 1990, when work began on the airport expressway.

What to see at Han Yangling Mausoleum

• Emperor's mound outer pits hall 帝陵外藏坑遗址保护展示厅: A fully underground hall built over the pits beside the emperor's mound, where glass-covered pits and walkways show rows of small figures, animals and tools.
• South Gate tower site 南阙门遗址保护展示厅: A protective hall over the remains of the mausoleum's grand south gate, which shows how the tomb precinct was entered.
• Archaeology exhibition hall 考古陈列馆: The museum's main display of figures, weapons models and daily objects excavated from the mausoleum and its subsidiary tombs.
• Ancestral temple site 宗庙遗址: Earthen foundations of the ritual buildings where offerings were made to the dead emperor.

How to visit Han Yangling Mausoleum

The four main displays are spread through the grounds, so allow two to three hours. See the underground hall first for the figures, then go to the archaeology hall to see them in context. The mound itself is covered and not entered.

How to get to Han Yangling Mausoleum

There is no metro station nearby and buses are infrequent, so most visitors come by taxi or ride-hailing car: about 45 minutes from the Bell Tower, or about 20 minutes from Xi'an Xianyang airport.

Where to stay

Stay in Xi'an, about 45 minutes away; if you have an early or late flight, the Xi'an Xianyang airport area is a convenient base.

What to eat

• Xianyang dipped noodles 咸阳蘸水面: Wide noodles served with a sauce of chilli, vinegar and garlic for dipping; a Xianyang speciality.
• Yangrou paomo 羊肉泡馍: Lamb stew poured over torn flatbread, a Xi'an dish easily found back in the city.
• Zenggao 甑糕: A sweet steamed rice cake with dates and beans, sold at Xi'an stalls.

Tips for visiting Han Yangling Mausoleum

• The museum opens every day, with no weekly closing day.
• It lies on the way to or from the airport, so it fits around a flight; taxis back can be hard to find, so book a return ride or keep your car.
• The underground hall is cool and dimly lit, so bring a light layer, and leave the flash off.

Nearby

• Daming Palace National Heritage Park 大明宫国家遗址公园 20 km
  Earthen terraces and a rebuilt gatehouse marking out the lost palace of the Tang emperors
• Muslim Quarter 回民街 20 km
  Halal street food and a temple-style mosque in the lanes north of the Drum Tower
• Bell Tower and Drum Tower 钟楼·鼓楼 20 km
  Two Ming towers at the heart of the walled city, where bell and drum once marked the day
• Forest of Stone Steles Museum 西安碑林博物馆 20 km
  Inscribed stone tablets of classics, calligraphy and Silk Road history by the south wall
• Xi'an City Wall 西安城墙 20 km
  Cycle all 14 km of a Ming city wall, high above Xi'an's rooftops
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda 小雁塔 20 km
  A slender Tang brick pagoda, cracked by earthquakes, in the grounds of the Xi'an Museum

Also within 30 km: Lewa Adventure 乐华欢乐世界 (under 10 km), Chanba National Wetland Park 浐灞国家湿地公园 (under 10 km), Chongwen Pagoda 崇文塔 (under 10 km), Site of Qin Xianyang 秦咸阳城遗址 (under 10 km), Fucha Town 茯茶镇 (10 km), Shunling Mausoleum 顺陵 (10 km).

On the map

Open Han Yangling Mausoleum on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)