Xixia Imperial Tombs

Brief synthesis The Xixia Imperial Tombs are a necropolis of the Xixia Dynasty, located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of north-west China, in the foothills of the Helan Mountains, and formed from the 11th to 13th centuries. Comprising nine imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex and thirty-two flood control works, this necropolis is a unique testimony to the Xixia Dynasty and its imperial lineage, which lasted nearly 200 years and was established by the Tanguts, nomadic herdspeople who settled in a region crossed by the Silk Road, and brought together a diverse population composed, in addition to the Tanguts, of Han, Tubo, Uighur, Khitan and Jurchen peoples. Through contact with merchants, caravans, monks and nomads, the Tanguts developed a civilisation based on the Chinese imperial model, of which Buddhism was an essential part. This is evidenced by very large, diverse architectural sites, as well as a wealth of objects excavated at the property, including fragments of stelae in Tangut script. Criterion (ii): The Xixia Imperial Tombs bear witness to cultural and religious influences from multiple sources, ranging from the traditions of the Song and Tang dynasties to the beliefs and funerary customs of the Tanguts, where adherence to Buddhism dominated and ancestral traditions persisted. These characteristics are fully reflected in the spatial organisation, design and architecture of the Xixia funerary complex. Criterion (iii): The Xixia Imperial Tombs illustrate the spiritual and cultural originality of the Xixia Dynasty and the Tangut people. This civilisation developed for nearly 200 years in contact with the Silk Road through cultural and commercial exchange in north-west China, from the 11th to the 13th century. Integrity The property contains the only imperial tombs identified in the territory of the Tanguts that are associated with a set of subordinate tombs and supplementary constructions and works, allowing for a complete representation of the property and its architectural features in its historical setting. The remains forming the necropolis are in a generally good state of conservation, and the main factors affecting the property are the effects of climate change, tourism and urban growth. The boundaries are adequate, and the buffer zone provides an additional layer of protection. Authenticity The property is located in an unspoiled natural desert setting. Its visual and spiritual connection to the Helan Mountains is also preserved. Each tomb, whether a mausoleum or a subordinate tomb, the flood control works and the architectural complex are preserved in place in their original location and have retained enough materials to remain coherent. Protection and management requirements The property has been a National Priority Protected Site since 1988. Its perimeter was declared a conservation area by the regional authorities in 1991. All interventions on the property are governed by the national regime for the protection of cultural relics. A series of laws and regulations complete and strengthen this system. Four competent administrative authorities are responsible for managing the property: the central government, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Yinchuan Municipality and the Yinchuan Xixia Imperial Tombs Management Office, to which is attached the Xixia Imperial Tombs Cultural Tourism Development Co. Ltd. These authorities are tasked with ensuring, each at its own level, compliance with the legislative and regulatory framework for the conservation and management of the property. To this end, these authorities have adopted the Conservation Plan of Xixia Imperial Tombs (2019-2035), approved and published by the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in January 2024. This plan builds on and supplements previous planning arrangements, and provides for a conservation area plan with management rules. The Conservation and Management Plan of Xixia Imperial Tombs (2023-2035) assesses the state of conservation of the property and provides for enhanced measures as well as the implementation of actions for protection, management, use and research. It also defines a strategy for the coordinated development of heritage protection and its economic and social aspects at the local level. Finally, it provides for a set of measures to take into account natural risks as well as urban or tourism-related pressures. In addition to these specialised conservation plans, the Territorial Spatial Master Plan of Yinchuan Municipality (2021-2035) integrates the conservation of the Xixia Imperial Tombs within the ecological protection of Helan. It also takes into account the protection of the mountains and the cultural heritage. These provisions provide legal, institutional, and management guarantees for the protection of the conditions of integrity and authenticity of the property.