Qianling Mausoleum is located on Liangshan Hill about 80 kilometers west of Xi'an. This well preserved mausoleum is the joint tomb of the the Tang dynasty Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian. Empress Wu's rise to power is particularly impressive given that she became an Empress in her own right in a society where the highest position a woman could generally hope to obtain was that of concubine. After her husband died, the Empress Wu ruled the country until her death in 707. Criticism of this "feminist" Empress ranges from those who saw her as little more than a whore to those who consider that she was blood thirsty and tyrannical. No doubt all these opinions are tainted by the simple fact that she was a woman. The Tomb is surrounded by headless statues of the leaders of minority peoples. There are various historical relics here including stone engravings and exquisitely carved stone statues. Of all the arts, sculpture particularly blossomed during the Tang dynasty.

The small mausoleum is located on a hill with three peaks- two artificial and one natural. Locals believe that the north peak resembles Empress Wu's head and the two southern peaks resemble her breasts! There are also other tombs around here including Princess Yong Tai's tomb- an elegant and beautiful construction.

Cuisine: You could get to the Qian County 3 Km away from Qianling Mausoleum, and taste the speciality of guokui and the sour soup noodle there; it's very delicious.

How to get there: To get to Qianling Mausoleum take the special tourism bus from the west square of Xi' an railway station. Buses leave every twenty minutes and the trip takes about two hours, with RMB12 fare. There is the antique equipage to get to other scenic spots, besides, you could ride to visit.

Ticket Price: RMB 84 (4 spots)