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Zhaoling is the tomb of
Li Shimin (599—649), the
second Tang Emperor
known as Tai Zong. It is
located on Jiujun
Mountain in Liquan
County northwest of
Xi’an. Jiujun Mountain
rises 1,188 metres above
sea level and is flanked
by undulating mountain
ranges to the east and
west. Occupying an
imposing site, Zhaoling
set a precedent for the
practice of building
tombs on a mountainside.
Surrounded by more than
160 tombs of
high-ranking court
officials and generals,
Zhaoling covers an area
of 20,000 hectares with
a circumference of 10
kilometers. The stone
carving “Six Steeds at
Zhaoling” is one of the
best examples of Tang
Dynasty sculpture. The
lifelike carving
represents the six
horses that carried the
first Tang Emperor Tai
Zong to victory in the
battles that brought the
country under his rule. |
