Ancient Silk Road tombs in China join Unesco World Heritage list

The Western Xia Imperial Tombs in northwest China has been designated as a Unesco World Heritage site – a recognition of the site’s importance as a centre of cultural fusion and commercial activity on the ancient Silk Road.

The group of burial sites, also known as the Xixia Imperial Tombs, officially received the designation from the United Nations cultural body on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The site dates back to the Western Xia dynasty (1038–1227), which was ruled by the Tangut people, an ancient branch of the Qiang ethnic group.

The site is located some 30km (19 miles) west of today’s Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

The 40 sq km (15 square miles) site is home to nine imperial mausoleums, their 271 accompanying subordinate tombs, 32 flood control works sites with walls and discharge trenches, as well as a five-hectare (12 acres) northern architectural complex site for purposes such as worship and management of the tomb area.

According to Xinhua, the World Heritage Committee said the site was a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions among diverse traditions that occurred during the period.

South China Morning Post