Western Qing Tomb Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
Tailing, the tomb of Yongzheng, is the biggest and earliest building. Built between 1730 and 1737, the Tailing is the largest imperial tomb structure of the entire mausoleum complex and a natural staring point for sightseeing in the area. Along the "Sacred Way" leading to the mausoleums are a series of meticulously arranged buildings. To the right immediately inside the Great Red Gate (Dahongmen); the main gate to the mausoleums is the Dressing Hall, where the principal worshiper in the imperial sacrifice would change his robes before performing the rites. To the north of it stands a double-roofed hall, 30 m tall, in which are found 2 tablets in commemoration of "holy virtue and merit". Outside the hall is a small open square with 4 ornamental white marble columns at its corners. Passing over a 7-arch stone bridge, the "Sacred Way" leads northward to a pair of mountain stones and 10 pairs of stone sculptures (6 of animals and 2 each of civil and military officials) which line both sides of the way.
Not far to the west of the Tailing is the Changling of Emperor Jiaqing. The 2 mausoleum complexes are nearly identical in terms of the number of buildings and style of architecture and decoration. The rear square rampart of the Changling stands slightly higher than that of the Tailing stands slightly higher than that of the Tailing. The floor in the Hall of Eminent Favor was laid with polished granite marked with natural purple patterns.
The Changling was completed in 1803, though Jiaqing was not buried there until March 1821, when the underground palace was sealed. In accordance with Qing Dynasty practice, Empress Xiaosurui, who predeceased Jiaqing, was buried in the Changling, but her successor, who died after the demise of the emperor, was buried separately in a tomb to the west of the Changling.
5 kilometer west of the Changling is the mausoleum of emperor Daoguang, the Muling, built between 1832 and 1836. Soon after his ascension to the throne in 1820, however, Daoguang began the construction of a mausoleum at the Eastern Qing Mausoleums district, a project, which went on for 7 years. One year after its completion, however, it was found that the underground palace was flooded. Enraged, Daoguang laid the blame on those in charge of the construction work. The matter was settled when fines were imposed on those officials responsible for the site selection and construction.
The Chongling of Emperor Guangxu is 5 kilometer to the east of the Tailing. Built in 1909, it is the last imperial tomb to be constructed although its occupant was not the last emperor of China. That honor belonged to Emperor Xuantong (Aisin-gioro Puyi), who reigned from 1909 to 1911 and abdicated at the age of 6. Dying as a commoner in 1967, Henry Puyi, as he was also known, unfortunately had no opportunity to share the underground splendor enjoyed by his predecessors.
East of the Chongling stands the mausoleum of Guangxu's concubines. The tombs contain the remains of the famous concubines Zhen and her sister Jin. Concubine Zhen became Guangxu's favorite by extending active support to the emperor's program of reforms, but for this she became an object of Empress Dowager Cixi's enmity. She was subjected to torture, placed in isolation and forbidden any further contact with the emperor. In 1900, the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing. As Cixi was fleeing Beijing she ordered her chief eunuch Cui Yugui to dispose of Concubine Zhen and, as the legend goes, he threw her down a well in the northeast corner of the Imperial Palace. Her body was recovered in 1901 and buried in Tiancun, a small village outside of Xizhimen. Her remains were interred at the Western Qing Mausoleums in 1915.
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Western Qing Tomb
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