Dubbed the “Eastern Pyramid,” the Western Xia Imperial Tombs located in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is now applying for the inscription of World Cultural Heritage List, according to a themed conference held in Yinchuan City on November 30.

The Western Xia Dynasty existed from 1038 to 1227 in the area now covered by the northwestern Chinese provinces of Ningxia, Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northern Shaanxi, northeastern Xinjiang, and southwestern Inner Mongolia. Tombs of the imperial family embody the culture of Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) Dynasties and were also strongly influenced by Buddhism. The scenic spot is one of the largest and best preserved imperial mausoleums in China. In 1988, it is recognized as a key cultural heritage site under State protection and a national key scenic spot.

The application has achieved great accomplishment since it started in 2011. General plans featuring historical relic protection at the tombs have been released and right now a data base is being compiled to promote the application process.