Stone horse excavated from Xixia Imperial Tombs

The Xixia Imperial Tombs were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Friday, becoming China's 60th World Heritage Site.

Among the remarkable finds from these Xixia (or Western Xia, 1038-1227) tombs is this stone horse. Unearthed in 1977 from the subordinate tomb No 101, this sculpture was carved from a single block of white sandstone. With its lowered head, curved neck, and flowing mane, the sculpture captures both the strength and the grace of the horse. As a burial sculpture, it reflects the Tangut people's reverence for horses–symbols of conquest and power.

Currently, the stone horse rests in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum, connecting us to the mysterious spirit of the Western Xia Dynasty.