World Cultural Heritage: Mausoleum of the Ming and Qing Emperor (4)

Brief introduction of the Mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911) founded by the Man nationality was the last feudal dynasty in China’s history. Since the dynasty was founded by its first Emperor Nurhachi, it went through 12 emperors in total and ruled China for 295 years until its last emperor the Xuantong Emperor stepped down after the Xinhai Revolution. According to the construction period and location, the Mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty can be divided into three parts, namely the Three Mausoleums outside the Shanghaiguan Pass, the Eastern Qing Mausoleum and the Western Qing Mausoleum. Both the Eastern and Western Qing Mausoleums were designed and constructed in accordance with mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty.

The grave areas were put together and only one main entrance was set. The paths started from the Zhenghong Gate, went through the stone statues, stele pavilions, columns, and reached every grave area at last. The order of the layout is as follows: Five-Hole Stone Bridge, Monumental Tower, Stele Pavilion, Three-Hole Stone Bridge, Large Platform, Palace Gate, Long’en Hall with its left and right side halls, Shiping Bridge, Platform, Glaze Gate, Five-Sacrifice Platform, Fang Tower (Shangliming Tower), Crescent Tower, Bao Tower and Bao Altar. The ranking of the graves of the emperor, queen, prince, princess and concubines was quite strict, and a fixed formula was established.