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20km northeast of Jiayuguan, in a barren section on
the outer limits of the Gobi desert, lies the Xincheng
prefecture, within which is contained the Xincheng Wei-Jin
Art Gallery (Xincheng weijin mu). The Gallery is actually
two tombs, that, although known about for quite a while,
were not infiltrated until 1972. Within this area, a
large stretch between Jiayuguan and Jiuquan, there are
over 1,400 tombs built between 220 AD and 419 AD, during
the Wei and Jin Dynasties.This area is not overly tourist-filled
and as such makes for one of the nicer trips from the
town.
This is known as the largest subterranean art gallery
in the world, housing numerous, colourful murals on
its cold, stone walls. Most of the tombs are familial
ones, housing bodies of three or four generations, although
currently only tomb number 6 and 7 are open to the public.
The corridors and caves of the tombs are filled with
interesting sights: the walls are lined with delicate
patterns and lines symbolising cloud, water, fire, gods
and weird animals. The corridors are paved with tiles
in diverse flower patterns. Most of the inner chamber
walls depict, in colourful murals, the contemporary
routine life of the master and mistress, and their various
entourage. Others, however, also reflect the political,
cultural, military, and scientific development of the
Wei and Jin Dynasty age...an insight into this ancient
Chinese feudal society.
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