Yinchuan, also known as the 'Phoenix City', is the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous region in northwest China. Located to the east of Helan Mountain(贺兰山), Yinchuan is endowed with rich tourism resources and ample Western Xia Empire relics. In today's On the Road, we will experience Yinchuan through a trip to the Western Xia imperial tombs and Helan Mountain. Here's our guide, Ning Yan.

It takes no more than an hour to travel from the city center to the Western Xia imperial tombs, one of the largest and best preserved imperial tomb complexes in China. Known as the 'Oriental pyramids', the golden tomb mounds set against the background of Helan Mountain create a picture of desolate splendor.

The Western Xia imperial tombs were discovered by accident during the construction of a military air field in 1972. The soldiers were digging the foundation when they found a dozen pieces of old pottery and some bricks. With the help of archaeologists from the Ningxia Museum, the ancient tombs were finally unearthed.

The relics included mural paintings, delicate handicrafts, ancient pottery, and bricks covered in square designs. After careful tests and research, the archaeologists ascertained that the tombs belonged to the emperors of the 11th century Western Xia regime, and the words on the bricks were actually Western Xia characters.

Detailed investigations and research on the tombs have been carried out ever since. An imperial tomb has been uncovered, as well as four coffin chambers and stone-tablet pavilions. Other relics, including sculptures, coins and pottery, revealed a historical record written in Western Xia characters. Paintings discovered here reflected the Western Xia people's nomadic lifestyle. The uniquely-shaped stone carvings and clay sculptures have also provided archaeology experts with valuable clues about the ancient civilization.

Director of the Western Xia Research Institute Du Jianlu (杜建录) has worked on ancient Western Xia culture for decades. He says the tombs attract many tourists because the Western Xia relics are distinguishable from those of China's central plains.

"The Western Xia Imperial Tombs are situated in the western suburb of Yinchuan to the east of Helan Mountain. It stretches 4.5 kilometers from east to west, and 10 kilometers south to north. It covers an area of 50 square kilometers. Altogether, nine imperial tombs and more than 100 coffin chambers were buried in the area. Generally speaking, the tombs not only possess their own national features, they also carry some characteristics of China's central plain."
Niu Dasheng (牛达生), a researcher at the Western Xia Research Institute, describes the unforgettable impression he had when he first saw the tombs years ago.

"It was vast, desolate and mysterious. I can't tell you the exact feeling. You didn't know how many things there were; you couldn't see the end of it."

Hundreds of conical hills can be seen over the vast wasteland. Though the weather over the course of a millennium has damaged the surface, the tombs are still solid and stand erect.

The third tomb is the largest and best preserved of the nine imperial tombs. Archaeologists believe it to be the burial chamber of the first Western Xia emperor, Li Yuanhao (李元昊). Du Jianlu says this tomb has great significance for researchers.

"The Western Xia imperial tombs have momentous value to the study of China's catacombs management, as they are the only preserved ethnic imperial tombs besides those of the Qing Dynasty. The large quantity of construction materials, especially the colored glazed ones, is of great importance to China's architectural history research and study. What's more, as the unearthed bronze ox has shown skillful casting techniques, it is very helpful to explore the manufacture of handicrafts from that time."