Chinese researchers have restored a suit of gilded bronze armor from the Tang dynasty, providing the first physical evidence of the “golden armor” praised for centuries in classical Chinese poetry.
The armor was recovered from a royal tomb in Dulan County, northwestern Qinghai province, a region that once served as a major transit hub along the ancient Silk Road. Specialists say the suit is the only known surviving example of Tang-era armor made from bronze plates covered in gold.
For historians and archaeologists, the find offers a rare moment where literary imagery and material evidence align.
Excavation at a key Silk Road crossroads
Archaeologists excavated and stabilized the tomb between 2022 and 2025. The work was led by the Key Laboratory of Archaeological Sciences and Cultural Heritage at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Dulan sits along routes that once linked the Tang heartland with Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau. Researchers say the tomb’s location reflects the strategic importance of Qinghai as a cultural and military corridor during the early medieval period.
The restored armor was publicly revealed in January 2025, following several years of conservation and scientific study.
A complex and fragile restoration
The restoration proved unusually challenging. Investigators said the armor survived only in fragments after centuries underground. Earlier looting and partial salvage efforts had scattered and damaged the pieces, leaving many extremely fragile.
Bronze plates were found mixed with lacquered armor fragments, complicating efforts to identify which parts belonged together. Conservators described the remains as unstable and at risk of further deterioration.
To address this, the team adopted a method that involved dismantling the remains into individual components before reassembling them into a complete suit. Each plate was carefully cleaned, catalogued, and stabilized using modern conservation techniques.
Science reveals true gilding
Researchers documented the armor in detail before reconstruction began. They used 3D scanning to record the original spatial arrangement of the plates and microscopy to analyze the metal surfaces and manufacturing methods.
Chinese researchers have restored rare gilded armour from a Tang dynasty king’s tomb in Qinghai, offering the first real proof of the “golden armour” praised in ancient poetry. pic.twitter.com/W0LhtzHVHS
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) January 20, 2026
Scientific testing confirmed that the armor was genuinely gilded. The bronze plates were coated with gold leaf or gold plating, producing the bright golden surface described in Tang poetry. Researchers said the use of real gold points to elite ownership rather than decorative imitation.
A 2024 excavation report published in the journal Archaeology described the find in detail. The report noted that the bronze plates were nearly rectangular, with a distinctive semicircular lower edge, a form consistent with high-status armor of the period.
Digital reconstruction brings armor to life
Alongside the physical restoration, conservators created a video reconstruction showing how the armor likely appeared when first worn. The digital model depicts overlapping plates forming a surface that would have reflected light as the wearer moved.
The reconstruction closely matches Tang-era poems that compare armour to “golden scales” glimmering in the sun. Researchers say the imagery now appears grounded in real material culture rather than poetic exaggeration.
A king of the Tuyuhun
Researchers dated the burial using several methods. Tree-ring analysis of wooden structures inside the tomb provided a firm timeline. Studies of gold objects and silk textiles found in the burial supported the results.
Together, the evidence places the tomb in the mid-8th century, during the height of the Tang dynasty. Based on the tomb’s scale and grave goods, researchers identified the occupant as a king of the Tuyuhun.
Founded in the 3rd century, the Tuyuhun kingdom controlled key routes across the Tibetan Plateau and played a major role in Silk Road trade. The kingdom was later conquered by the Sui and Tang dynasties and eventually became a vassal state under the Tubo, or Tibetan Empire.
Martial culture and historical records align
The tomb contained more than gilded armor. Archaeologists also recovered equestrian equipment and other forms of protective gear, including iron and lacquered armor. Researchers say the range of military items reflects a society that valued mounted warfare and personal protection.
These findings align with descriptions in the New Book of Tang, compiled in the 11th century by historian Ouyang Xiu. The text described Tubo armour as covering the entire body, with only openings for the eyes.
Scholars say the restored suit offers new insight into warfare, craftsmanship, and political power along China’s western frontier. More broadly, it shows how poetic descriptions from the Tang era can reflect historical reality when supported by archaeological evidence.
