Xi'an, Sha'anxi Province, China

Qianling Tomb

This is one of the most impressive tombs, 85 km northwest of Xi'an. It is the resting place of the Tang Emperor Goa Zong and his wife Wu Zetian. Goa Zong ascended the throne in 650, after the death of his father, Emperor Tai Zong. Empress Wu, actually a concubine caught the fancy of his son who made her his empress. Goa died in 683, and in the following year Empress Wu dethroned his successor Emperor Zhong Zong. She reigned as an all-powerful monarch until her death in 705.