巍哉乾陵

Imposing Qianling Mausoleum

陕西关中腹地的咸阳塬,是世界著名的中国汉唐帝王陵墓区,从古都西安城外极目望去,但见苍茫烟云衬托着一座座高坟大冢.其中,位于乾县县城北约6公里处,有一座三峰耸立的梁山,北主峰海拔1047.9米,苍润高峻,长林丰草环其麓;南则双峰对峙,浑圆挺秀如乳,其上各筑有土阙.

Qianling Mausoleum, the joint tomb of Emperor Gaozong and his Empress Consort Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty and the only one of its kind among all the imperial mausoleums in China, is situated along the northern edge of 400 sq. km Qinchuan Plain in central Shaanxi Province. The imperial cemetery was designed and constructed based on the layout of Chang'an city, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. As the period of constructing the cemetery coincided with the peak of the Tang Dynasty prosperity and with solid national strength, the mausoleum was speculated as the grandest in scale with splendid architectures, topping all the imperial mausoleums of past dynasties. Despite of over 1,300 years' social turbulence and weathering, the huge stone statues lining the front path of the tomb stand loftily and the underground palace full of treasures remains unstolen. As a world-famous site of historical interest, Qianling has become a sightseeing resort, attracting numerous Chinese and overseas tourists.