Qianling Mausoleum

Tang dynasty joint tomb of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian. Massive scale; the spirit way is lined with monumental stone statues.

Qianling, 80 km northwest of Xi'an, is the Tang dynasty mausoleum jointly housing Emperor Gaozong (died 683) and Empress Wu Zetian (died 705) — the only female emperor in Chinese history. The tomb has never been excavated. The 4 km spirit way leading to the tomb is lined with 124 large stone statues — pairs of officials, generals, lions, foreign envoys — and the famous 'wordless stele' that Wu Zetian had erected for her own tomb.