The 10 Best Historic Sites in Ningxia, Ningxia

Reviewed By WorldGlutton - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

From the city of Yinchuan, it took us 45 mins drive on tour bus to arrive at Xi Xia Mausoleum, which is the Imperial cemetery of Xi Xia Kingdom. Xi Xia or Western Xia was a dynasty situated at this North Western region of ancient China during 1038 to 1227 B.C. The burial ground over an area of 50 sq km, several upstanding stone tablets with inscriptions in both English & Chinese language. It was recorded that No.3 Tomb belongs to First Emperor Li Yuanhao of Xi xia Kingdom. There are 9 mausolea and 250 attendant tombs. This site was destroyed during the Mongolian Conquest of Xi Xia, but its major historical and cultural monuments are now under State protection. Efforts are underway to secure & preserve the remaining tombs. Xi Xia Museum is located within Royal Imperial Graveyard but it is a far walk, thus some prefers to ride on the battery car for the tour. Museum has collections on fine works from Xi Xia’s history , culture, religious art ,social economy, the mausoleum , conservation & inheritance. Through the exhibits of objects , charts, photographs ,creative painting ,sculpture, sand table scene and multi media presentation, it indeed gives travelers a vivid description of the History of Xi Xia Dynasty . History of this Western Xia Kingdom was not recorded in the formal Chinese history because Ghenzhis Khan decreed that no memory of the Xi Xia should remain after he executed the whole Xi Xia clan after his army finally conquered the kingdom. We did not have time to walk around the whole Art Gallery, nevertheless it is no doubt an educational and interesting experience to have visited the poorly understood era of Western Xia Dynasty.