Mausoleum of Han Dynasty emperor identified in NW China

A large-scale mausoleum in suburban Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has been identified as the tomb of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25) on Dec 14.

Located in Bailuyuan village southeast of the city and previously referred to as the Jiangcun Tomb, it is more than 30 meters deep with over 100 outer burial pits, from which a large number of pottery figurines, potteries, bronze wares and official seals of that era were unearthed.

Liu Heng (r. 179-157 BC), or Emperor Wen of Han, was the third emperor of the Western Han Dynasty and famed for diligence and thriftiness. The empire as ruled by him and his son Emperor Jing was considered the first period of general stability and prosperity during China's imperial years.