Tomb of Emperor Jingdi - an Underrated Relic of the Han Dynasty

The "Rule of Wen and Jing" is an indelible tone of the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization while visiting the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi and is the best way to remember this great age's ruler. However, with the baptism of time and numerous glorious historic flowers blooming, people almost forget that besides the Terracotta Army, there is an underrated highlight in Xi'an — the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi. It's hard to imagine that hundreds of thousands of Han Dynasty figurines will shock you but the unique underground museum will take your breath away.Two thousand years of Han culture and history are vividly displayed there.

Why Should You Visit the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi?

• Open the door of Han's culture. Exploring the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi is one of the most important ways to comprehend the glorious history of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 9 AD).
• Explore the Han Dynasty figurines. Discover the differences between the Terracotta Army and the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi.
• Observe the Han's relics at close quarters. You can observe the 2,000-year-old historic relics through the glass floor.

Who Was It Built For?

Hanyangling is an imperial tomb where Emperor Jingdi and his empress were buried. This majestic project covers 20 square kilometers and was built over a period of 28 years. The Han emperor, Liu Qi (122–141 BC), was the fourth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty. (122–141 BC) During his reign, he advocated Taoist thinking. He took a series of measures to make the common people happier, such as lowering tax greatly, using diplomacy to stop unnecessary military expeditions, forming allied marriages with the Huns, and even proclaiming a general amnesty (the release of prisoners). Although it's hard to understand for foreigners, his rule was very successful. Emperor Jingdi of Han and his father created the first flourishing dynasty together after the Chinese monarchy dictatorship. After he died in 141 BC, he was buried in the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi.

How Can You Explore This Majestic Imperial Tomb?

Explore the Culture of the Han Dynasty

The mysterious "underground kingdom" vividly highlights the flourishing Han Dynasty. Visitors can directly witness the 2,000 years of civilization via technology in the outside pits’ exhibition hall. What features are worth discovering?

Witness the Central Government in the Han Dynasty

Judging from the unearthed cultural relics, the 81 outer pits surrounding the imperial tomb have the highest status among the numerous outer pits. It's very likely that they symbolized "the nine great ministers of state" of the central government in the Han Dynasty.

Admire the Marvelous Statuary Creation

The Tomb of Emperor Jingdi has the reputation of being "the statuary art museum of China". Every statue is vivid, has a perfect blend of dynamics and characteristics, and has a totally different look and expression from the others. Among the hundreds of thousands of wooden relics and pottery figures, every unearthed sculpture displays the high level of Chinese statuary art from 2,000 years ago.

Reenact the "Life Show" of the Emperor in the Han Dynasty

Witnessing the "life show" of this emperor in the Han Dynasty is an amazing experience, which you can't miss. During this 15-minute realistic historic scene, you understand the lifestyle during the "Rule of Wen and Jing", and explore ancient China's culture and history with the help of advanced technology.

Visiting and Participating at the Archaeology Site

Compared with other historic museums, travelers can witness the process of unearthing the relics at close quarters at the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi. Archaeologists will continue to dig other burial pits, and visitors are able to visit this great historic exploration project.

Explore the Main Sites of the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi

Feudal emperors insisted on a traditional concept: treating death as another way to live. According to this seemingly bizarre way of thinking, Chinese emperors' funerals were both extravagant and magnificent.

Emperor Liu Qi's Tomb

Emperor Liu Qi's Tomb is the most important tomb of Hanyangling. It is 6 kilometers long, 1 to 3 kilometers wide, and covers 12 square kilometers. There are 81 rectangular wooden burial pits, which are the most significant pits and have accompanied Liu Qi's tomb for over 2,000 years. In 1998, archaeologists dug up numerous different pottery figures there, including civil officials, military officials, attendants, and eunuchs.

Empress Wang's Tomb

Empress Wang was the second empress of Emperor Liu Qi and the mother of a famous Chinese emperor — Martial Emperor Liu Che (his 54-year reign is considered the most glorious of the Han Dynasty). After she died, her body was buried to the northeast of Emperor Liu Qi's Tomb. What a harmonious and romantic picture that they also accompanied each other after they died.

South and North Burial Pits

The South and North Burial Pits both cover 96,000 square meters. A large number of painted pottery figures were unearthed there in 1990. Intensive pottery figures of soldiers, warehouses for food, cows, pigs, dogs, chickens, and tools vividly display the military lifestyle in the Han Dynasty. It not only reflects the burial system of the Western Han Dynasty but reflects the economic boom, strong military standing, and prosperous lifestyle in the Western Han Dynasty.

Explore the Unique Underground Museum

This is an 8,000-square-meter museum where you can "travel through time to the Han Dynasty" (with the help of advanced technology) to experience the ancient lifestyle and talk to famous people from China’s history. Visitors can walk along the twisting and turning path and then enter the underground museum. Through the suspended glass bridge, each burial pit will shine its historic light one after the other in front of you.

Travel Tips

• Chinese: 汉阳陵 (Hànyánglíng, han-yang-ling)
• Location: Zhangjiawan Village, Weicheng District, Xianyang (it's 17 kilometers away from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport)
• Opening hours: 8:30am–6:30pm
• Visiting duration: 2–3 hours
• Entrance ticket: 70 yuan
• Clothing recommended: It’s quite dark in the museum, so wearing a pair of comfortable shoes is convenient.

How Can You Get to the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi?

• From Xi'an City

Take the special tourist line 4 and get off at the terminal station. Chinese: 乘坐旅游专线4路车, 在终点站下车

• From Xianyang City

Take bus 5 at Xianyang Railway Station and get off at the station designated for the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi. Chinese: 乘坐5路公交车, 在汉阳陵下车 Opening times: 8am to 6pm Price: 4 yuan

Hire a Tour Guide to Have a Full Experience

If you are not familiar with Chinese history and want to have a full experience at the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, hiring a tour guide is a good choice. Contact us!

• Price: underground museum, 120 yuan (English guide) archaeological museum, 80 yuan (English guide) tour guide: 200 yuan (English guide) for the whole tour

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