Wuwei Leitai Han Dynasty Tomb

The tomb is located in present Leitai Park of Wuwei. It was discovered in 1969 underneath a Chinese scholar tree at Leitai, the site of a temple dedicated to the god of thunder built in the middle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Artifacts found in the tomb include the famous bronze galloping horse, which is now used as the logo of Chinese tourism. According to the inscriplion on a terracotta horses from the tomb. the tomb belonged to Zhang Jun, garrison commander of Zhangye, who died between A.D. 186-219. It has yielded 231 artifacts made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, bone, stone, and pottery and 99 terracotta horses used for ceremonial purposes. The best of the finds in terms of artistic value is a bronze galloping horse covered with greenish-blue verdigris. It is depicted in full gallop with its right hind hoof stepping on the back of flying swallow. Built with superb workmanship, the bronze horse is a fine example of Chinese bronze art. The original is now housed in the Gansu Provincial Museum but replicas of the horse are available almost everywhere in Gansu.