Located in an eastern suburb, seven kilometers
from Guilin City, this is an imperial mausoleum site where eleven princes
of the Jingjiang Family during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) are buried.
The Jingjiang Family is comprised of the descents of King Jingjiang, the
nephew of a Ming emperor. During the earlier Ming period, to strengthen
the centralization of state power, Ming Emperor Taizu (the first Ming
emperor) designated his 24 sons as kings to administer different areas
in China. King Jingjiang got his title and built his palace at the foot
of Solitary Beauty Peak. The descendent kings chose this mausoleum site
as their burial place.
The site is enclosed by a rectangular red wall. More than 300 tombs are
spread over 100 square kilometers. Like most Chinese mausoleums, a grand
sacred way leads to the inner palace with various animal and official
stone statues on each side. There are three routes on the sacred way.
The middle one is exclusive for the emperors while the other two on each
side are for officials. At the end of the sacred way inside the inner
palace are
Xian Dian (Prayer Hall) and Bao Cheng (Treasure City). Religious and ancestral
prayers are held in Xian Dian and Bao Cheng is the resting place for the
kings.
The one tomb open to the public is that of the third king and his consort.
Excavated items include gold, silver, jade, pottery, porcelain and other
antiques. Among them is a precious, elegant porcelain vase.
Admission: 15 (RMB)