The exquisite animal statues and dynamic carvings of humans fighting beasts here are invaluable cultural relics left by Emperor Wu of Han. These masterpieces are national treasures that set a precedent for later Chinese sculpture. Among the fourteen large stone carvings, twelve are certified as national-level cultural relics by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Distinguished figures including Liu Kaiqu, former Chairman of the China Artists Association, renowned writer Jia Pingwa, and celebrated historian and litterateur Guo Moruo, all spoke highly of these works. Three pieces — Horse Treading on a Xiongnu Warrior, Rearing Horse and Recumbent Horse — are most admired by scholars and visitors down the ages. It is widely believed that these horse sculptures were created on Emperor Wu’s personal instruction.

Emperor Wu was famously passionate about fine steeds. He was the first emperor in Chinese history to compose poems purely for the sake of acquiring superior horses.