Located about 20 kilometers from the Xianyang International Airport, Han Yang Ling is the mausoleum of Emperor Jing, who reigned from 188 BC to 141BC, and his wife Empress Wang Zhi. He was the sixth emperor of the Han dynasty and Emperor Jing was clearly someone who liked to be prepared because his tomb was under construction for an incredible 28 years from 152 BC to 126 BC. Excavation of the burial tombs has revealed over 40,000 miniature terracotta figures, all standing about 60 centimeters tall. Apart from representing a monumental task in design and construction – apart from the main tomb there are 81 satellite tombs and 5,000 sacrificial burial tombs – the figures have provided a fascinating view into the life of the Han imperial court.
Update: July 29, 2021
