Wei and Jin Dynasty Mural Tombs in Xincheng Town

Chinese Name: 新城魏晋墓 (Xin Cheng Wei Jin Mu)
Location: Xincheng Town, Jiayuguan City, Guansu Province, China
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY31.00
Estimated tour time: 1hour
Recommended time to visit: All year round
Nearby attractions: Caohu Lake Desert Senic Spot, Jiayuguan Pass, TheGreatWallpier,Overhanging Great Wall, Jinta Desert Populus Euphratica Forest ,etc.

The brick mural tombs of Wei and Jin dynasty were tombs of the Wei and Jin dynasty located in the gobi desert about 18 kilometers from downtown Jiayuguan City, Guansu Province. In the area of nearly 13 square kilometers, there are more than 1,000 ancient tombs of the Wei and Jin dynasty, known as the "underground gallery". Between 1972 and 1979, 18 tombs were excavated, of which 9 were painted brick tombs and 9 were plain brick tombs. The fifth tomb was fully relocated to Gansu Provincial Museum in May 1973. 

The nine tombs have more than 600 colored paintings on the bricks. Brick paintings have almost all scenes from real life, including farming, hunting, animal husbandry, egressing, dancing, cooking, feasting, military training and so on. It is the physical materials for studying the politics, economy, culture, military, nationality, folk custom and climate of the northwest region in the Wei and Jin dynasty. Among them, the painting contents fill the blank in the art history of the Wei and Jin dynasty. 

Unfortunately, most of the funerary goods have been stolen, leaving only the brick murals of the tombs exuding the life scene of hustling breath. The postman image in the tomb is the earliest one found so far, and it has become the symbol image of the modern China Post. There are more than 1,000 tombs, but only tomb No. 6 is currently open to the public. The area is divided into a small museum and three underground chambers, representing the owner's courtyard, living room and bedroom, with corresponding murals painted on the walls of the burial chambers.

Jiayuguan Xincheng Town Wei and Jin Mural Tomb Museum was established in 1988, located in Cincheng Town, under the administration of Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area Committee. The museum covers an area of 761 square meters, construction area of 276 square meters, exhibition hall area of 187 square meters, collection of 66 cultural relics, including 4 precious culturalrelics, with the Wei and Jin dynasty(220-420) brick murals unearthed tomb brick murals and other features of the collection. There is a basic display of Wei and Jin Tomb brick mural art exhibition, which receives about 16,000 visitors every year.