Located at the southern foot of Changrui Mountain in the northwest of Zunhua City, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, Eastern Qing Tombs Scenic Area is the largest, most complete and well-arranged complex of imperial mausoleums existing in China. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a World Cultural Heritage. The scenic area covers a total area of 80 square kilometers, consisting of 15 mausoleums, including 5 imperial tombs, 4 empress tombs, 5 concubine gardens and 1 princess garden, burying 5 emperors, 15 empresses, 136 concubines, 3 princes and 2 princesses, totaling 161 people.
The scenic area is built in the traditional form of "front court and back bedroom", with strict layout, exquisite architecture and superb brick, stone and wood carving techniques, reflecting the highest level of ancient Chinese architecture. The mausoleum area is surrounded by towering ancient trees, beautiful scenery, mountains and rivers, forming a feng shui pattern of "collecting all beautiful things of dragons, sand, acupoints and water, and having all kinds of good luck in form and feng shui principles", which is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese mausoleum architecture.
History and Culture
Eastern Qing Tombs was first built in the 18th year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1661). Through the construction of Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang and Xianfeng dynasties, it formed a large-scale royal mausoleum. The first mausoleum buried in Eastern Qing Tombs was Xiaoling of Emperor Shunzhi, and the last mausoleum was Chongling of Emperor Guangxu (but Chongling is located in Qingxiling, and the last built in Eastern Qing Tombs is Dingdongling of Empress Dowager Cixi).
The construction of Eastern Qing Tombs lasted for 247 years. In terms of architectural style, it inherited the tradition of Ming Dynasty imperial tombs and integrated the characteristics of the Manchu people, forming a unique architectural art style. The stone carvings, stele pavilions, palaces and other buildings in the mausoleum area are not only precious historical relics, but also important materials for studying the politics, economy, culture and art of the Qing Dynasty.
In 1928, the shocking tomb robbery incident occurred in Eastern Qing Tombs. Sun Dianying led the army to excavate the Yuling of Emperor Qianlong and the Dingdongling of Empress Dowager Cixi. A large number of precious cultural relics were stolen, causing huge losses to Eastern Qing Tombs. After the founding of New China, the government protected and repaired Eastern Qing Tombs, making it an important cultural heritage and tourist attraction.
Main Attractions
Xiaoling Mausoleum
Xiaoling Mausoleum is the main building of Eastern Qing Tombs, the mausoleum of Emperor Shunzhi Aisin-Gioro Fulin, and the earliest and largest imperial tomb in Eastern Qing Tombs. From the dismounting stele to the Fangcheng Minglou, Xiaoling has a total length of more than 6,000 meters. A central axis runs through the north and south, with stone archways, Dahongmen, stele pavilions, stone statues, Longfeng Gate, Shendao Stele Pavilion, Long'en Gate, Long'en Hall, Fangcheng Minglou and other buildings arranged in sequence.
Xiaoling has a total of 18 pairs of stone statues, including civil and military officials, horses, elephants, camels, etc., which are the largest and most exquisite stone statues in Eastern Qing Tombs. Long'en Hall is the main building of Xiaoling. The hall enshrines the spiritual tablets of Emperor Shunzhi, Empress Xiaokangzhang and Empress Xiaoxian, and is the place for holding sacrificial activities.
Yuling Mausoleum
Yuling Mausoleum is the mausoleum of Emperor Qianlong Aisin-Gioro Hongli, located on the west side of Xiaoling. The underground palace of Yuling is one of the most exquisite underground palaces in Eastern Qing Tombs. The underground palace is 54 meters deep and consists of nine vaults and four gates. The whole underground palace is covered with exquisite stone carvings, including eight great bodhisattvas, four heavenly kings, five tathagatas, twenty-four filial piety pictures, etc. The carving skills are exquisite and it is known as the "treasure house of stone carving art".
The above-ground buildings of Yuling are also very grand. The column network layout in Long'en Hall adopts the form of "golden compartment bucket bottom groove", and the ceiling in the hall is decorated with exquisite color paintings, which is a masterpiece of Qing Dynasty architectural art.
Dingdongling Mausoleum
Dingdongling Mausoleum is the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Cixi Yehenara and Empress Ci'an Niohuru, located on the east side of Dingling of Emperor Xianfeng. The architectural style of Dingdongling is unique, especially the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Cixi, which is more luxurious in building materials and decorative techniques.
The wooden frames of Long'en Hall and the east and west side halls of Cixi's Mausoleum are all made of precious yellow pear wood. The beams and brackets are decorated with gold-pasted dragon and phoenix hexagram color paintings. The walls of the hall are inlaid with 240 carved bricks, and the ceiling is decorated with thousands of gold-pasted golden dragons, which is the most luxurious building in Eastern Qing Tombs. The underground palace of Dingdongling is also exquisitely decorated. The stone gates of the underground palace are carved with exquisite bodhisattva images, and the walls of the underground palace are decorated with stone carvings of Buddhist themes.
Jingling Mausoleum
Jingling Mausoleum is the mausoleum of Emperor Kangxi Aisin-Gioro Xuanye, located on the east side of Xiaoling. The architectural layout of Jingling is strict, the scale is grand, and the above-ground buildings are well preserved. There is a Shengde Shenggong Stele Pavilion on the Shendao of Jingling, and a meritorious stele of Emperor Kangxi is erected in the stele pavilion, which records the civil and military achievements of Emperor Kangxi in the inscriptions.
The concubine garden of Jingling is one of the largest concubine gardens in Eastern Qing Tombs, burying 48 concubines and 1 prince. The architectural layout of the concubine garden is neat, and the tombs are arranged in order, which is an important material for studying the funeral system of concubines in the Qing Dynasty.
Food
Zunhua Gege
Zunhua Gege is a characteristic food around Eastern Qing Tombs, with a history of more than 300 years. Gege is a thin pancake made of mung bean flour, with delicate taste and delicious flavor. It can be fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, braised and other practices. Among them, "Qianlong Gege" is the most famous. It is said that when Emperor Qianlong toured Eastern Qing Tombs, he tasted Gege and praised it, so Gege became the imperial food.
The price of Zunhua Gege is moderate, generally 10-15 yuan per catty, which can be bought in restaurants and specialty stores around the scenic area.
Zunhua Roast Chicken
Zunhua Roast Chicken is a local traditional food, made of local free-range firewood chickens as raw materials, through pickling, frying, stewing and other processes. The roast chicken is golden in color, crisp in skin and tender in meat, delicious in taste, and has a strong local characteristic.
The price of Zunhua Roast Chicken varies according to the size and quality of the chicken, generally 50-80 yuan per piece. It is recommended to taste it in time-honored restaurants around the scenic area.
Jingdong Chestnut
Jingdong Chestnut is one of the specialties of Zunhua City, named after it is produced in the Jingdong region. Jingdong chestnuts are large in size, thin in skin, fine in meat, sweet and waxy in taste, rich in protein, fat, vitamins and other nutrients, and are traditional tonic products.
There are many sales points of Jingdong chestnuts around Eastern Qing Tombs Scenic Area. The price varies according to the quality, generally 15-25 yuan per catty. When purchasing, you can choose fresh chestnuts with shells or processed sugar-fried chestnuts.
Great Wall Boluo Cake
Great Wall Boluo Cake is a food with the characteristics of the Great Wall. It is said that it was invented by Qi Jiguang when he led soldiers to build the Great Wall. Boluo Cake is made by mixing starch and water into a paste and spreading it on Boluo leaves to steam. It has a fresh and fragrant taste and a unique flavor.
Great Wall Boluo Cake can be eaten in restaurants around Eastern Qing Tombs Scenic Area, and the price is generally 15-20 yuan per plate. It is a must-try characteristic snack.
Zunhua Walnut
Zunhua Walnut is another major specialty here. The walnuts here are large in size, thin in skin, full in kernel and high in oil content, rich in nutrition, and have high edible and medicinal values. Zunhua walnuts can be eaten directly or processed into walnut crisp, walnut powder and other foods.
Zunhua walnuts have a variety of packaging specifications in the specialty stores around the scenic area. The price varies according to the quality and packaging, generally 20-30 yuan per catty.
Tickets
Tickets start from 45 yuan.
You can search the official WeChat public account "遵化清东陵" in WeChat to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of Eastern Qing Tombs Scenic Area are from March 1 to November 30 every year, 8:30-17:00 (stopping ticket sales at 16:30); from December 1 to February 28 of the next year, 9:00-16:00 (stopping ticket sales at 15:30).
The scenic area is normally open during legal holidays and the tourist peak season (April-October). In case of extreme weather or special circumstances, the scenic area may be temporarily closed. For specific opening conditions, please consult the scenic area official.
Tour Routes
One-Day Tour Route
Start from the scenic area entrance in the morning, take a sightseeing bus to Xiaoling, visit the main building of Eastern Qing Tombs, enjoy the stone archway, Dahongmen, stone statues and other buildings, and understand the history of Emperor Shunzhi. Then go to Yuling to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Qianlong, focus on visiting the underground palace, and enjoy the exquisite stone carving art.
In the afternoon, go to Dingdongling to visit the mausoleums of Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Ci'an, and feel the luxury and beauty of Cixi's Mausoleum. Finally, go to Jingling to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Kangxi and understand the civil and military achievements of Emperor Kangxi. The whole journey takes about 5-6 hours, which can fully appreciate the historical culture and architectural art of Eastern Qing Tombs.
Half-Day Tour Route
If time is limited, you can choose a half-day tour route and focus on visiting Xiaoling and Dingdongling. Visit Xiaoling in the morning to understand the overall layout of Eastern Qing Tombs and the history of Emperor Shunzhi; visit Dingdongling in the afternoon to feel the luxurious architecture and historical stories of Cixi's Mausoleum.
Deep Tour Route
The deep tour route is recommended to arrange two days. Visit Xiaoling, Yuling and Dingdongling on the first day, and visit Jingling, Huiling, concubine gardens and other other attractions on the second day. In this way, you can have a more comprehensive understanding of the historical culture and architectural art of Eastern Qing Tombs, and deeply feel the charm of the imperial mausoleums of the Qing Dynasty.
Transportation
- Self-driving: From Beijing, take Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway to Capital Ring Expressway, then transfer to Zunqin Expressway, and get off at Eastern Qing Tombs Exit, with a total distance of about 120 kilometers and a driving time of 1.5 hours; from Tianjin, take Jinji Expressway to Capital Ring Expressway, then transfer to Zunqin Expressway, with a total distance of about 180 kilometers and a driving time of 2.5 hours; from Tangshan, take Tangcheng Expressway to Zunqin Expressway, with a total distance of about 80 kilometers and a driving time of 1 hour.
- Bus: Beijing Sihui Coach Station has direct buses to Eastern Qing Tombs, departing at 8:00 and 10:00, returning at 14:00 and 16:00, with a fare of about 60 yuan and a journey of 2 hours; Tangshan Coach Station has direct buses to Eastern Qing Tombs, departing at 9:00 and 13:00, returning at 15:00 and 17:00, with a fare of about 30 yuan and a journey of 1.5 hours.
- Train: Take a train from Beijing East Station to Zunhua Station, then transfer to a local bus or taxi to Eastern Qing Tombs. The train journey takes about 2 hours, and the fare is 25 yuan. The bus fare from Zunhua to Eastern Qing Tombs is about 15 yuan, and the journey is 40 minutes.
- Internal transportation of the scenic area: The distance between the scenic spots in the scenic area is far, so it is recommended to take a sightseeing bus. The sightseeing bus ticket is 30 yuan/person, which can be purchased at the entrance of the scenic area.
Must-See Attractions
- Xiaoling Mausoleum: The main building of Eastern Qing Tombs, with grand scale, strict layout and exquisite stone statues, is a must-visit attraction to understand the history and architecture of Eastern Qing Tombs.
- Yuling Underground Palace: One of the most exquisite underground palaces in Eastern Qing Tombs, covered with exquisite stone carvings, which is the treasure house of stone carving art and shows the highest level of carving art in the Qing Dynasty.
- Dingdongling (Cixi's Mausoleum): Luxurious in architecture and exquisite in decoration, especially the yellow pear wood frame and gold-pasted color paintings of Long'en Hall, which is the most luxurious building in Eastern Qing Tombs and reflects the noble status of Empress Dowager Cixi.
- Jingling Mausoleum: The mausoleum of Emperor Kangxi, with well-preserved above-ground buildings. The meritorious stele in the Shengde Shenggong Stele Pavilion records the civil and military achievements of Emperor Kangxi, which is an important attraction to understand the history of Emperor Kangxi.
Tour Tips
- Season choice: April-May and September-October are the best seasons to visit Eastern Qing Tombs. At this time, the weather is sunny and the temperature is suitable. The ancient trees in the scenic area are new green or the mountains are full of red leaves, and the scenery is beautiful.
- Itinerary arrangement: The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to arrange 1-2 days to visit, so as to fully appreciate the characteristics of each scenic spot and avoid too tight itinerary.
- Dress and equipment: The scenic area is mostly ancient buildings and stone roads. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and casual clothes. In summer, take sun protection measures and carry sunscreen, sun hats, etc.; in autumn, the temperature on the mountain is low, so carry a coat.
- Catering and accommodation: There are many farmhouses and restaurants around the scenic area, providing accommodation and catering services at relatively affordable prices. You can experience local characteristic foods such as Zunhua Gege and Zunhua Roast Chicken.
- Explanation service: Eastern Qing Tombs has rich historical and cultural heritage. It is recommended to hire a guide or rent a voice guide to better understand the historical background and architectural characteristics of the scenic area.
Notes
- Ticket Management: Scenic area tickets are for one-time use. If you need to re-enter the park after leaving, you need to purchase a new ticket. It is recommended to keep the ticket properly.
- Safety Tips: Some buildings in the scenic area have high steps. Please pay attention to foot safety when visiting, especially for the elderly and children. It is recommended to be accompanied by family members.
- Environmental Protection: There are many ancient trees in the scenic area, which are important cultural heritage. Visitors should love the environment, not climb ancient trees or litter at will, and jointly maintain the cleanliness of the scenic area.
- Civilized Tour: Eastern Qing Tombs is a solemn historical and cultural scenic area. Visitors should visit civilizedly, not make noise or play, respect historical culture, and not damage cultural relics and historic sites.
- Medical Rescue: There is a medical room in the scenic area. In case of sudden illness or injury, you can contact the staff in time for help; the mobile phone signal in the scenic area is good, and you can contact the outside world at any time.