A view of the Xixia Imperial Tombs. [Photo courtesy of the Xixia Imperial Tombs Management Office]

At the foot of the Helan Mountains in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region stands a mysterious burial complex of ancient emperors — the Xixia Imperial Tombs. The tombs were built by the Tangut people, an ethnic group that thrived in northwest China between the 11th and 13th centuries. With their unique architectural wonders and precious artifacts, the tombs bear witness to the history of interactions, exchanges and integration among multiple ethnic groups in the agrarian-pastoral ecotone of northern China during this period. They also provide special testimony to the formation of a diverse yet unified Chinese civilization and to the historical process of China's development as a unified multi-ethnic country.

On July 11, 2025, the Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, bringing China's total number of World Heritage sites to 60. As archaeological excavations at the site continue to advance, more long-buried historical details are being uncovered, opening a new window for the world to understand Chinese civilization.

Rammed earth outlines millennial architectural wonder

In 1038, Li Yuanhao, leader of the Tangut people, proclaimed himself emperor, founded the Daxia State, historically referred to as Xixia or Western Xia, and established its capital at Xingqing Prefecture, today's Yinchuan. The Xixia regime lasted for 189 years through the reigns of 10 emperors.

As the imperial burial complex of the Xixia Dynasty (1038–1227), the Xixia Imperial Tombs were built roughly from the early 11th century to the early 13th century, basically corresponding to the dynasty's period of rule. Located in the northwestern part of the Yinchuan Plain in Ningxia, the mausoleum area stretches from Yushugou in the Helan Mountains in the south to Quanqigou in the north, and from the Xigan Canal in the east to the foothills of the Helan Mountains in the west. It measures 4.5 kilometers from east to west and over 10 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of approximately 50 square kilometers. To date, excavations have revealed nine imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a large architectural site (the Northern Architectural Complex), 32 flood control structures, along with several brick-tile and lime kiln sites, all testifying to the site's grand scale and well-organized layout.