Welcome to Eastern Tombs of Qing Dynasty
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The Eastern Tombs of Qing Dynasty, a sacred burial ground near Beijing, is one of the two tomb areas devoted to the emperors, empresses and imperial concubines of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911, the last feudal empire in China). The other is Western Qing Tombs.
Eastern Tombs of Qing Dynasty is the most important tomb group of emperors and empresses of Qing Dynasty, and it is also the largest and most complete emperor’s mausoleum in China. The Eastern Tombs of Qing Dynasty is located along Changrui Mountain in the west of Malanyu Town, Zunhua County, Hebei Province.
The group tombs buried 5 emperors, 14 empresses, 1 princess and 136 concubines. Many important emperors and empresses were buried here, including Shunzhi Emperor, Kangxi Emperor, Qianlong Emperor, Xianfeng Emperor and Tongzhi Emperor. Xiaozhuang Empress, who had greatly influenced the politics of Qing Dynasty, and Cixi Empress were also buried in the tombs.
Of all the tombs, Xiaoling is the biggest and most elaborate, standing as the focal point of the entire structure. The grandeur of this tomb may be attributed to its having been the first sepulcher constructed for a member of the royal family of the Qing Dynasty. A sacred way with guardian figures and the entrance to the tomb itself is preceded by a large stele pavilion and marble bridges over a stream. To the right, there are the buildings used for preparation of sacrifices. Inside the gate, halls to the left and right were for enrobing and other preparations, as usually does each Hall of Eminent Favor.
Xiaoling Tomb
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Xiaoling, the tomb of Emperor Shunzhi (1638-1661, the first Qing emperor to rule China), is aligned with the axis of the main apex of Changrui Mountain, which indicates that the person buried there is the most exalted in the group. Other emperors' tombs lie on both sides of Xiaoling in a fan pattern from east to west according to the position each person occupied in the family hierarchy. The tombs of empresses and concubines are placed alongside those of their husbands, clearly showing the master-subject relationship that they had in life. Sacred ways connect the tombs of the women with those of their husbands, and the sacred ways of the tombs of the other emperors connect with that of Xiaoling. Thus a branch-like system is formed, showing clearly the relationship of the rulers to their heirs.
Dongdingling of Cixi Empress
An example of the most exquisite architecture of the Eastern Tombs of Qing Dynasty is Dingdongling, the tomb of Empress Dowager Cixi. Although she handled affairs of state for more than 45 years, she never ascended the throne. Elaborate and highly refined decorations and carvings inside Dingdongling make it unique among the tombs of the Qing Dynasty. The main material used in the tomb, which took six years to build, was gold, the symbol of royal family.
Admission fee: 120RMB/person
Opening hours: 8:30-17:00