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Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum, a museum to house the Chinese ancient tombs, is located at the Mang Hill in the north suburb, about 10 kilometers from the center of Luoyang City.With the building area of over 8,200 square meters, the museum is housed in a complex of grand buildings in the Han Dynasty architectural style.Between two buildings, the various trees and flowers are planted, so that the museum can be considered as garden museum. Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum was opened to the public in 1987. 

What to see ?

The exhibits are displayed on two floors above ground and there is also an underground section.It is said that the ancient emperors, princes, generals and other public celebrities always chose Luoyang to be buried after their death.The museum consists of tombs area of different dynasties, emperors' tombs area of North Wei Dynasty (368AD-534AD), murals hall.

The above ground section

Here,you will see the tablet inscribed with the name of the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum in Chinese characters, the Menque (a kind of ornamental watchtower set in front of palaces, mausoleums, temples and residences) carved from white marble, the Xumu (prelude) Hall with a pair of Tianlu (a mythical creature said to ward off evil spirits). 

The hall houses the sand map showing the distribution of the Han Dynasty tombs. The two halls on either side of Xumu Hall include a library room, reception room, exhibition room, souvenir room and a room for taking photos, each being connected by cloisters. 

The side halls present models of the tombs, burial objects and simulations of funeral scenes from the primitive society to the Zhou Dynasty, which illustrate clearly the development of ancient tombs and the local customs of ancient Luoyang.Behind Xumu Hall lies the Xuan Hall, which is the entrance to the underground section. 

The latter half of the above ground section contains the Sijiao (quadrangle) Pavilion and the Wangjing (sightseeing) Pavilion. The function of the Sijiao Pavilion, an extension to the underground halls, is to provide ventilation and sunlight to the lower floor. In Wangjing Pavilion, you can either take a rest or look out over Luoyang City.

The underground section

The constrcutions of the underground section are arranged in the Chinese character '回', totally moving and rehabilitating 22 typical tombs from the Western Han Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty. They are respectively Han Dynasty Hall, Wei & Jin Dynasties Hall, Tang Dynasty Hall and Song Dynasty Hall, exhibiting more than 500 cultural relics. They are mainly funerary objects, daily utensils and ornaments, the excavated color-painted pottery figures and the pink guardian animals being the most impressive. 

Another highlight in this section are the eye-catching murals depicting the ascent to heaven and the attainment of immortality, the exorcising of demons, fairy tales, historical stories, diagrams of astronomical phenomena and scenes of family life and social life of the tombs' occupants. In addition, the excavated epitaphs are really fine examples of calligraphy and stone inscriptions from these dynasties.

Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum is not only a distinctive museum with pseudo-archaic architectures, ancient tombs and murals, but is also has a modern garden with exuberant grass and flowers, tall trees, artificial hills, piled stones, pools and fountains.

Travel Tips
Address: No. 45, Airport Road, Old Town, Luoyang City
Tel: 0379-65865266
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00, stop at 16:30, closed on Monday.