On the lofty peak of Mt. Liangshan, some 80 km northwest of the Tang Dynasty capital Xi'an, lies the only joint burial ground of two Chinese imperial rulers. Tang Dynasty Emperor Gao Zong (628-638) and his Empress Wu Zetian (624-705) are buried together in Qian Ling Tomb, also known as Qian Mausoleum.

The mausoleum is considered to be the most representative and best preserved of all 18 Tang mausoleums. Over the past 1,300 years, countless people have tried to find the entrance to this fabled underground palace, but its secrets remain veiled in mystery.

X Marks the Spot - The Treasures of Qian Ling?

Carved stone works are almost all that remain on the surface of Qian Ling today. Exquisite and elegant, they have stood upright on top of Mt Liangshan for over 1,200 years. They are demonstrations of the skill of Tang carvers, gems of the ancient Chinese art of stone carving.

The Qian Ling tomb is not only magnificent in its outward appearance, but also rich in buried treasure.

In feudal society, taxes were used to fund the construction of the emperors' mausoleums and piles of rare treasures were buried with the dead. Qian Ling is no exception. During Tang Gaozong and Wu Zetian's reign, the Tang Dynasty was at its height, and its wealth and power is reflected in the tomb's artifacts.

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