# Maoling Mausoleum of Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝茂陵)

Xianyang, Shaanxi Province · Northwest, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/maoling-mausoleum-of-emperor-wu-of-han
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥75 (March–November), ¥55 (December–February)
- **Opening hours:** 8:30–18:00 (April–October), 8:30–17:30 (November–March)
- **Time needed:** 2–3 hours
- **Getting there:** Take the Western Line tourist bus from Xi'an Railway Station directly to the scenic area. Alternatively, take a bus from Xi'an Chengxi Bus Station to Xingping, transfer at the Fujiaqiao stop (符家桥站) to a city bus, and head to the Maoling Museum (bus stop).
- **Good for:** History & Culture

## About Maoling Mausoleum of Emperor Wu of Han

The Maoling Mausoleum lies 40 km north of Xi'an, in the northeast of Xingping City. It is the tomb of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che. There are five Han imperial tombs in this area, which is why it is known as the 'Five Mausoleum Plateau' (五陵原). Emperor Wu's great achievement was opening the Silk Road, and Maoling is the largest of the five tombs. Construction took 53 years. The tomb is an earthen mound with a flat-topped conical shape, standing 46.5 metres high, with city walls on all four sides and a base measuring 240 metres per side. According to the *Book of Han* (汉书), countless gold, silver, and precious objects were buried with the emperor, but the tomb was looted at the end of the Western Han dynasty. Around the mausoleum are more than 20 accompanying tombs for meritorious officials, consorts, and others. The most famous are the tombs of Huo Qubing and Wei Qing. The stone carvings in front of Huo Qubing's tomb are the most precious, and the Maoling Museum has been built here.
The Tomb of Huo Qubing lies northeast of Maoling. It features a large number of stone carvings, including 16 large-scale works such as the Leaping Horse, the Reclining Elephant, and the Wild Boar. These are the earliest and most completely preserved large group of stone sculptures in China. The main figure, 'Horse Trampling the Xiongnu' (马踏匈奴), is the most valuable of all.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 657. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
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