Gongling Tomb of the Tang Dynasty

The Gongling Tomb features burial chambers within Mount Liang, containing the remains of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian at an elevation of 1,000 meters.

Following Emperor Gaozong's death in 684, the mausoleum was completed, and Wu Zetian, China's only female emperor, joined him in a joint burial after her passing in 706.

Stone statues line the spirit way leading to the tomb, representing foreign dignitaries and symbolic animals according to Tang Dynasty funerary traditions.

The tomb complex includes seventeen smaller attendant tombs surrounding the main tumulus, though excavations were suspended in 2012 by the Shaanxi Administration of Cultural Heritage.

The burial chambers contain intact treasures of gold, copper, and ceramic items, along with wall murals depicting Tang Dynasty court life and architectural practices.

Location: Yanshi District

GPS coordinates: 34.63319,112.81111

Latest update: March 16, 2025 16:17