Ningxia: Imperial Mausoleums of Xixia Dynasty

Located the east foot of Helan Mountain, about 30 km west of Yinchuan Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Imperial Tombs of Xixia regime(1038-1227) is the royal mausoleum of Xixia dynasty which is renowned as the “mysterious miracle” and “Western Pyramid”. With nine emperors’ mausoleums and 253 accompanied tombs scattering in the 53-square-kilometer area, it is one of the most largest the best preserved surficial relic of imperial mausoleums.

Like other imperial tombs, Western Xia mausoleums were composed of two architectural units— the mausoleum gardens above ground and underground palaces. All the mausoleum gardens faced south, and their architectural forms above ground have some unique characteristics, though they are quite similar to mausoleums of the Tang and Northern Song dynasties in Gongxian County.

Based on some excavations, each mausoleum had a unified layout, occupying an area of more than 100，000 square meters, surrounded by inner and outer walls. At each corner of the mausoleum gardens were watchtowers, providing visual indicators of the boundaries, serving functions similar to those of watchtowers of the Imperial Palace(Forbidden City)in Beijing. Mausoleum gardens were organized from south to north: Stone gates, tablet pavilion, outer city, inner city, hall furnished as an imperial bedroom and spiritual terrace.