On July 11, 2025, at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, the Western Xia Imperial Tombs were officially inscribed on the World Heritage List, becoming China's 60th World Heritage site. A year later, this group of Western Xia Dynasty tombs, which had been dormant for nearly a thousand years, is "awakening" through diverse means such as technological empowerment, innovative exhibitions, and cultural tourism integration.

The No. 3 Mausoleum Tower of the Western Xia Imperial Tombs. Photo by Chang Xiaojiao.

Located at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Western Xia Imperial Tombs are a complex of mausoleums of the Western Xia Dynasty (1038–1227), established by the Tangut people. Spanning nearly 40 square kilometers, the tombs include nine imperial mausoleums, 271 accompanying tombs, and 32 flood control engineering sites. As the largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved archaeological site of the Western Xia Dynasty, the Western Xia Imperial Tombs provide unique evidence of the diverse yet unified structure of Chinese civilization and the formation of a unified multi-ethnic state.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized that the Western Xia Imperial Tombs meet World Heritage Criteria 2 and 3, believing that they fully inherited the imperial mausoleum system of the Tang and Song dynasties in terms of site selection, spatial layout, mausoleum architecture, and construction techniques, while also absorbing the cultural traditions of diverse ethnic groups such as the Tangut, Tibetan, and Uyghur, providing important evidence for the formation of the diverse yet unified pattern of Chinese civilization and the process of forming a unified multi-ethnic state.

"When the Western Xia Imperial Tombs Museum was first built in 1998, it had fewer than 30 artifacts in its collection. Now, the new museum houses more than 10,000 artifacts, including 509 sets of precious artifacts," said Shi Peiyi, curator of the Western Xia Imperial Tombs Museum. The museum has gathered exquisite Western Xia artifacts such as stone-carved strongman stele bases and dragon-carved balustrades, and has also created many digital products that allow the artifacts to "speak."

The west gate of the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, now revitalized with artistic vitality. (Photo by Chang Xiaojiao)

From museums to archaeological sites, digital technology is transforming the visitor experience. At Tomb No. 3, transparent acrylic panels outline the original architectural form, while stone statues woven from openwork metal wire recreate the spirit path. Meanwhile, VR and XR immersive experiences allow visitors to "ride" the imperial edict horse plaque across the tomb area, explore the underground palace, or "treasure hunt" with archaeologists. The heritage area also features VAR smart viewing telescopes; by rotating the lens and pointing it at the site, the device overlays digitally restored images, with fragmented pavilions and stone statues gradually appearing on top of the real-world scenery.

A Kalavinka on display at the Western Xia Imperial Tombs Museum. (Photo by Chang Xiaojiao)

The scenic area has developed and launched a variety of cultural and creative products covering stationery, jewelry, and food. The "Western Xia Imperial Guard IP Dolls" series, designed based on artifacts such as the glazed tile dragon-head ornament, the Kalavinka bird, and the green-glazed Capricorn, has transformed these auspicious beasts into plush toys and has been widely popular since its launch at the Western Xia Imperial Mausoleums in September 2025. In addition, the scenic area has also launched popular items such as the "Talingling" doll and ice cream featuring the Hercules and the dragon-head ornament. In August 2026, the "Blessing Western Xia, Longevity and Wealth" ice cream was launched, featuring the Western Xia characters for "fortune," "longevity," and "wealth" carved onto the ice cream, allowing tourists to take photos, cool off, and pray for good fortune—all in one convenient way.

Western Xia Imperial Tombs Museum. Photo by Chang Xiaojiao.

According to Ma Ruiqi, Marketing Manager of the Western Xia Mausoleums Scenic Area, the museum has also launched an immersive scripted tour called "Western Xia Secret Realm: Awakening of National Treasures," transforming the entire exhibition hall into a mystery-solving realm. Visitors become "detectives," traversing the exhibition hall to search for evidence in real-life settings and interacting with live NPCs, learning about Western Xia history while solving the mystery of missing national treasures. Meanwhile, cultural tourism integration projects such as Western Xia music performances, Western Xia costume experiences, and wine tastings are striving to present visitors with a concrete, vivid, and vibrant Western Xia Mausoleums experience.

Data shows that the successful inscription of the Western Xia Mausoleums on the World Heritage List has brought significant "traffic" to the mausoleums. In 2025, the Western Xia Mausoleums received approximately one million visitors, an increase of about 30% year-on-year; in the first half of 2026, the mausoleums received a total of 450,000 visitors, an increase of 102% year-on-year, with visitors from outside the province accounting for as much as 92%.

Western Xia Imperial Tombs Museum. Photo by Chang Xiaojiao.

Shi Peiyi, curator of the Western Xia Imperial Tombs Museum, stated that the Western Xia Imperial Tombs scenic area has transformed from simple protection to "management + research," allowing more visitors to experience the charm of Chinese civilization within this World Heritage site by exploring its historical value and innovating exhibition methods. (Source: China.com, Author: Chang Xiaojiao)

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