Northwest of Xi'an City seat in Liquan County is a thrusting peak named Jiuzong Mountain, on which lies the largest of the Tang imperial tombs -- Zhaoling, the tomb of Li Shimin, Emperor Tai Zong. Li Shimin (599-649) was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, but its actual founder. His tomb is about 60 kilometers from Xi'an and 22.5 kilometers northeast of Liquan County seat. Now in front of the tomb of an attendant, Li Ji, and at the foot of the mountain stands the Zhaoling Mausoleum. Li Shimin was the second son of Li Yuan, Tang Emperor Gao Zu. In 626, Li Shimin staged a coup d'etat at Xuanwumen, killing his suspicious and deceitful elder brother, Li Jiancheng, who was over fond of wine and women and was preoccupied by animal-hunting; taking the life of his younger brother, who plotted to murder him, and forcing Li Yuan to abdicate. [China.org.cn]

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