The Leitai Tomb of Han Dynasty, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, is located in the Leitai Park on the Beiguan Mid Road, Wuwei City, Gansu Province. It is a large brick-chambered tomb of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and was discovered by local farmers under an old locust tree in 1969. The tomb has been the largest Hexi tomb found out in Hexi region so far. It is famous for the unearthed treasure, Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, now the Logo of Chinese tourism.

According to the record on the horse chest of the horse tomb figure unearthed, it was the tomb of General Zhang of Zhangye built between 186 to 219 A.D.. The length of the path leading to the grave is 19.34 meters and the whole coffin chamber was divided into the front-chamber, the middle chamber, the back-chamber and three annex compartments. Though the tomb was ransacked by thieves many times, there are many remains that have been excavated. It is so called an “underground museum" by archaeologists. Among the unearthed antiques, there are 231 items of gold, silver, bronze, pottery, iron, jade or stone wares as well as 30000 ancient coins. Of all the unearthed antiques, 99 pieces of bronze horses and honor figurines are the most exquisite, and the Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow is of the greatest artistic value so it has been chosen as a representative of Chinese archaeological culture to travel all over the world and caused great sensations.


In September 1971, when accompanying Prime Minster Penn Nouth of the Royal Government of National Union of Kampuchea, Mr. Guo Moruo found the Bronze Galloping Horse in Gansu Museum and named it “Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow.

Ask Questions ?