This discovery has shocked the Chinese archaeological community.
More than 40 years ago, China first discovered the Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex, which consists of over 100 different large and small tombs located in the hot spring area of Niri Shui, Du Lan County, Qinghai Province, in western China.
This monumental discovery is so significant that, even now, Chinese experts continue to uncover historical narratives from the artifacts buried there.
42 Years of Continually Uncovering New Records
In fact, this place is called Niri Shui because the region is home to many hot springs that are thousands of years old.
“The hot water in Niri Shui is like holy water, precious as golden springs.” – This was the Emperor Kangxi’s exclamation (1654-1722) after he repeatedly came here to purify his royal body following his many battles, starting in 1678.
Not only does Niri Shui boast these golden spring-like hot waters, but it also contains a vast tomb complex that has been classified as a national “treasure” by China.
Everything began in 1982 when the Qinghai Provincial Archaeology and Cultural Relics Team accidentally discovered a group of ancient tombs while conducting a cultural heritage survey in Niri Shui Town, Du Lan County.
Immediately afterward, the Qinghai Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology began intensive investigations and explorations. In total, they conducted four unprecedented large-scale excavations at the Jingpeng Pass on the Tibetan Plateau.
One of the tallest mounds of the Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex. (Photo: Baidu).
From 1982 to 2024, a large team of Chinese and international archaeological experts has made remarkable findings: They discovered the Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex with over 100 different tombs situated at an altitude ranging from 3,200 to 3,500 meters in Niri Shui. The tombs are scattered over an area approximately 7,000 meters long across four villages in Niri Shui, dating from the 8th to the 9th centuries.
Since this tomb complex was discovered in Niri Shui, it is also known as “Niri Shui Tombs” (Hot Water Tombs). The astonishing fact that has left the Chinese archaeological community in awe is that this is the first large Tibetan tomb complex discovered in the country.
So, what has China gained from this vast treasure trove?
1. A treasure trove of gold, silver, and rare artifacts
In the Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex, archaeologists have unearthed a literal treasure trove.
Within the more than 100 tombs in Niri Shui, scientists found countless items of jewelry and artifacts made of Sogdian gold and silver (from Iran) along with luxurious silk fabrics, agate beads, bronze plates, bronze perfume bottles, and many other ‘noble’ items and cultural relics.
One of the exquisitely crafted gold artifacts. (Photo: Baidu).
Additionally, they discovered many extremely rare artifacts with contemporary historical value, such as items made from precious woods, a variety of brocades (including embroidered silk pieces with gold thread, the first ever found in China), and many Persian textiles of quality rivaling modern standards, along with Buddhist statues and artifacts from the Western Regions. These are all treasures that have been discovered for the first time in China.
Experts evaluate one of the gold artifacts found at the Niri Shui Tombs, Qinghai, China. (Photo: Baidu).
These findings demonstrate that this area was an important hub on the Silk Road. A part of the history of the 6,437 km long trade route connecting Asia and Europe has been revived after thousands of years lying buried underground.
The discovery of Sogdian gold and silver crafted with exceptional skill and distinctiveness shows that merchants from Iran came to China to exchange goods – proving this point.
2. The “Back to the Mountain, Facing the River” Geographical Position
Since the owners of the tombs belonged to the royal and noble classes, a common luxurious feature of these tombs – along with their very “noble” burial goods – is that all the tombs are covered with multiple layers of cypress wood.
This feature is just one of the ways of burial that strictly adheres to the ancient feng shui principles, which were highly valued by the ancients. Just look at how elaborately and meticulously they buried these hundreds of tombs to seek great fortune!
Since ancient times, humans have yearned for a life of wealth and prosperity, sustainable family growth, and a thriving nation. This aspiration remains even when a person has moved on to the next world. Therefore, choosing an ancestral tomb that aligns with feng shui and complies with the dragon vein is a way for the living to ensure that the deceased can bless future generations.
The Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex fully meets the ancient feng shui standards. Most of the tombs are “backed by mountains and facing rivers,” creating a sense of being protected by the mountains and opened up to the world beyond by the rivers.
Moreover, the tombs are covered with cypress wood. Above the nine layers of cypress wood is a layer of gravel, followed by soil and the burial mound. The bottom of the tombs is usually paved with stone and wooden planks.
The Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex consists of four large tomb clusters (from M1 to M4) scattered over an area approximately 7,000 meters long across four villages in Niri Shui. (Photo: Archaeology (China)).
Among the four large tomb clusters (marked M1, M2, M3, M4), there is one largest tomb. This largest tomb is situated on a natural hill 30 meters high, resting against the Niri Shui mountain and facing the river, majestic like a city. The burial mound (the added earth) rises 11 meters, extends 55 meters from east to west, and is 37 meters wide from north to south.
From top to bottom of the tomb, every meter contains a neatly arranged layer of wood placed over the burial mound, with up to 9 layers, all made of average thickness cypress wood. This form and style of tomb construction is the only type seen in all archaeological excavations ever conducted in China.
In front of the gate of each tomb cluster, more than 70 animal skeletons, including livestock, horses, sheep, dogs, and deer, were buried as offerings to the deceased. Furthermore, the tomb complex is built in a dangerous terrain, implying that the owners of the tombs are protected from disturbances by “earthly beings.”
Animal burial pits in front of each tomb cluster gate. (Photo: Archaeology (China)).
Most notably, archaeological discoveries in 2018 at Tomb No. 1 (M1) proved that this is one of the highest-ranking tombs with the most complete layout, clearest structure, and most complex design found in this complex and even across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
This indicates how much importance the “feng shui master” thousands of years ago placed on and adhered to the strict and meticulous feng shui elements in tomb construction.
3. Opening the Door to Deciphering the “Tibetan Code” from Millennia Ago
Chinese historians and scholars assess that the excavation of the Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex holds immense value for the study of Tibetan civilization history, the exploration of tomb forms in western China during the pre-Tang period, cultural exchanges/trade between the local area and Central Asia, and discussions about the origins of the Tibetan people.
A large quantity of brocade fabrics excavated from the tombs clearly demonstrates that from the late 6th century to the second half of the 8th century, Qinghai was one of the key trading hubs on the Silk Road and an important transit point for East-West trade.
This is why the tomb complex, located at an altitude of 3,500 meters, is highly regarded both in China and globally.
In 1983, the Ministry of Culture recognized this complex as one of six significant discoveries in China.
In 1996, with additional important findings in the complex, it was recognized by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as one of the top 10 archaeological discoveries in China in 1996, subsequently becoming a national key cultural heritage site.
In 2021, following new archaeological findings in 2020, the Tibetan Royal Tomb Complex was selected as one of the top 10 new archaeological discoveries in China for 2020.
Notably, in October 2021, this complex was further selected as one of the top 100 archaeological discoveries of the century.
Currently, this tomb complex continues to attract Chinese archaeologists for further exploration and decoding.
