In Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Xixia Kingdom (Western Xia, 1038-1227) has a history worth boasting about to world.

The territory of the ancient feudal kingdom established by the Dangxiang people (Tanguts) in the 11th century, overlapped today's Ningxia, as well as some parts of the neighbouring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, many precious relics of the Xixia Kingdom have been unearthed. Most of them are now preserved at the Ningxia Museum.

However, the cream of the Xixia cultural relics are now being shown at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

The exhibition, jointly held by the National Museum and the Ningxia Museum, opened yesterday and will run through March 20, 2005.

Short-lived kingdom

The Xixia people led a nomadic life and created a culture very different from the agriculture of the Hans.

Like the Mayans, the prosperous Xixia seemed to fall and disappear suddenly after the fierce Mongolian troops razed it to the ground in 1227, leaving a question mark in the history of world civilization.

But even after more than eight centuries and several changes of dynasties, there remains much evidence that help trace back the ancient glory.

Today the Xixia Mausoleum, located in the suburbs of Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia, is the most important historic site of the city and a must-see for tourists.

Even the place name, Ning-xia, has some connection with Xi-xia, as the syllable "xia" is represented by the same Chinese character.

After being conquered by Mongolian troops, the Xixia culture was severely damaged, with only a few books and other records remaining.

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