Qianling Mausoleum 乾陵Qiánlíng

Why go to Qianling Mausoleum

On Liang Mountain in Qian County, about 85 km north-west of Xi'an, Qianling is the joint tomb of the Tang emperor Gaozong and his wife Wu Zetian, the only undisputed female sovereign in Chinese history. Its spirit way (the ceremonial approach to an imperial tomb) climbs between two southern hills, each topped by a tower, past stone pillars, winged horses, ostriches, five pairs of horses with grooms and ten pairs of officials, to Gaozong's inscribed stele, Wu Zetian's Wordless Stele and 61 headless statues of foreign envoys.

The story

No one knows for certain why Wu Zetian's 7.5-metre stele was left blank. Later visitors carved their own words on it, among them a record of 1134 in the script of the Khitan people, which until the 20th century was the only known monument in that writing.

What to see at Qianling Mausoleum

• Twin southern hills 乳峰: Two rounded hills south of the tomb mountain, each once topped by a gate tower, form the gateway to the mausoleum. The spirit way begins in front of them.
• Spirit-way stone animals and officials 神道石刻: Past the first gate, the stone pillars, winged horses, ostriches, horses with grooms and ten pairs of officials line the approach, carved in the late 7th century.
• Wordless Stele and the Shusheng Ji Stele 无字碑与述圣记碑: Two tall steles stand side by side near the top of the spirit way: the western one inscribed with Gaozong's achievements, the eastern one, Wu Zetian's, left blank.
• Statues of foreign envoys 蕃臣像: Sixty-one headless figures stand north of the steles, their backs carved with names and countries, thought to represent envoys and tribal leaders who attended Gaozong's funeral. Researchers had identified 36 of them by 2003.
• Princess Yongtai's tomb and Qianling Museum 永泰公主墓与乾陵博物馆: One of five attendant tombs excavated in the 1960s and 70s, now home to the site museum. Its sloping passage and chambers show how a Tang princess was buried.

How to visit Qianling Mausoleum

Visitors walk the spirit way from south to north, through the gateway of the twin hills, past the animals and steles, to the foot of the tomb mountain; the burial chamber itself is sealed and is not open. Allow a couple of hours for the main walk, and add Princess Yongtai's tomb and the museum, a few kilometres south-east, if you want the full day.

How to get to Qianling Mausoleum

High-speed trains from Xi'an North reach Qianxian station in about 25–35 minutes; Qianling is then about 12 km away by taxi, roughly 20 minutes. A hired car from Xi'an takes about 1.5 hours each way.

Where to stay

Qianling is easiest as a day trip from Xi'an by high-speed train to Qianxian station. The town of Qian County is the alternative if you want to start early at the tomb, but choice there is limited.

What to eat

• Qian County tofu pudding 乾县豆腐脑: A silky, tender tofu pudding served hot in the county town, one of the dishes locals count among Qian County's best.
• Qian County hand-made noodles 乾县挂面: Thin, white, chewy dried noodles made by hand, served in a sour, savoury broth with oil and greens.

Tips for visiting Qianling Mausoleum

• The spirit way is long and exposed as it climbs, so bring water and sun protection in summer.
• Princess Yongtai's tomb, a few kilometres south-east, houses the Qianling Museum; its tomb passage is painted with replicas of Tang murals whose originals are in the Shaanxi History Museum.

Nearby

• Famen Temple 法门寺 30 km
  A Tang relic temple, the treasures of its sealed crypt and a 148-metre modern stupa
• Louguantai 楼观台 60 km
  Taoist courtyards climbing to the terrace where Laozi is said to have taught
• Han Yangling Mausoleum 汉阳陵 70 km
  Walk on glass above burial pits full of armless clay figures at a Han emperor's tomb
• Muslim Quarter 回民街 70 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 80 km
  Two Ming towers at the heart of the walled city, where bell and drum once marked the day
• Daming Palace National Heritage Park 大明宫国家遗址公园 80 km
  Earthen terraces and a rebuilt gatehouse marking out the lost palace of the Tang emperors

Also within 30 km: Yunji Eco-Park 云集生态园 (30 km), Baoben Temple Pagoda 报本寺塔 (30 km), Wugong City God Temple 武功城隍庙 (30 km), Yuanjia Village 袁家村 (30 km), Zhao Mausoleum 昭陵 (30 km).

On the map

Open Qianling 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)