Wusun Tumulus Tombs

Wusun Tumulus Tombs

The Wusun Tumulus Tombs are a cultural tourism attraction.

The Wusun Tumulus Tombs are burial sites of the ancient Wusun people, a nomadic ethnic group that once lived in the northwestern regions of China. From the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD, Bortala was part of the Wusun’s nomadic territory, which is why there are numerous Wusun tumulus tombs in the Bortala region.

The Wusun first appeared in the early Western Han Dynasty, with ancestral roots among the Kunyi and Kunrong tribes from the Shang and Zhou periods. Originally, the Wusun people were nomads in the Dunhuang area and the Qilian Mountains along the Hexi Corridor. They are ancestors of the Kazakhs. In 161 BC, with the support of the Xiongnu, the Wusun drove out the Yuezhi and settled in the Ili River basin, playing a significant role in the development of the region and the establishment of China’s northwestern frontier. In 105 BC, fearing the strength of the Xiongnu, Wusun leader Liejiaomi sought friendly relations with the Han Dynasty. He sent envoys with horses as gifts and requested a marriage alliance. Emperor Wu of Han agreed and in 105 BC, married Princess Jieyou’s predecessor, Princess Xijun, the daughter of Liu Jian, King of Jiangdu, to Liejiaomi. However, due to her inability to adapt to the customs of the Wusun, Princess Xijun fell ill and died two years later. After her death, the Wusun king again requested a marriage alliance with the Han. Consequently, Emperor Wu married Princess Jieyou, granddaughter of Liu Shu, King of Chu, to the new Wusun king, Junxumi. After Junxumi’s death, following Wusun custom, Princess Jieyou was married to King Wengguimi and bore him three sons and two daughters. Princess Jieyou was strong-willed and capable, assisting Wengguimi in state affairs. After Wengguimi’s death, in 51 BC, she returned to Chang’an with the support of her three grandsons and was well treated by the Han court. She passed away three years later. The marriages of Princesses Xijun and Jieyou reflected the mutual desire for peace and alliance between the Han Dynasty and the Wusun Kingdom. Both princesses contributed to fostering friendship between the Han and the Wusun, as well as other states of the Western Regions. Their roles helped strengthen ties between the Western Regions and the Han, promoted economic development in the area, and laid groundwork for the eventual unification of the Western Regions under Han rule.

Wusun tumulus mounds typically stand 7–8 meters high, with larger ones having base circumferences of 200–300 meters. Each cluster contains between 2–3 to several dozen mounds. The layout of the tombs varies: they may be arranged in single or multiple rows running north-south, or take on horseshoe, triangular, or irregular scattered formations. Most are aligned north-south and often grouped in odd numbers.

According to survey records: there are two Wusun tumulus tomb sites in Wenquan, four in Bole City, and five in Jinghe County, totaling 11 sites with 150 burial mounds. The number of tombs at each site varies greatly — some areas have dozens clustered together, while others have only 2–3. The size of the earthen mounds also differs significantly. The largest has a base diameter of nearly 100 meters and a height of about ten-plus meters, while the smallest has a base diameter of just 2–3 meters and a height of less than 1 meter. Most mounds have sunken pits at the top due to collapse. Some mounds are covered with vegetation similar to the local steppe flora, while others are made up of loess, fine sand, and gravel.

Since the 1960s, excavation studies have revealed that these tumulus mounds all contain vertical shaft graves. Larger tombs include wooden coffins, sacrificial slaves, and numerous domesticated animals. Artifacts unearthed include a large number of iron tools, silk fabrics, fine red pottery, as well as gold rings and earrings.