Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty

Stone Elephants in the Sacred Way  Pictures of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum

Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty (Mingxiaoling) is one of the biggest imperial tombs in China. It lies in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing City at the southern foot of Purple Mountain. Emperor Chengzu, Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Queen Ma were buried there.

Xiaoling Mausoleum is renowned for its unique design, its eminent status, its amazing beauty and its magnificent scale. It's the milestone in the historical development of Chinese mausoleums. As an extension of the 'Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it is listed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.

Construction of the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty began in 1381 and was completed in 1431. In 1384, Queen Ma died and was buried there. Emperor Chengzu had bestowed upon her the title 'Queen of Xiao Ci' which means 'Queen of Filial Piety and Kindness.' Hence, the name Xiaoling derives from her title.

Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty has two discreet sections: One is the Sacred Way area and the other is the main body of the mausoleum itself.
 At the entrance to Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty, you will see the Dismounting Archway. As a gesture of deep respect, visitors would discount their horses and sedans at this point. Not far from the entrance is the Tablet Pavilion called Si Fang Cheng. Here a majestic tablet was erected by order of Emperor Zhu Di, the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, to eulogize his father's merits and virtues. The tablet is carried by Bixi, a legendary animal in the shape of a tortoise.

Walking northwesterly across the bridge, you will see the winding 1,800-meter (1.1 miles) long Sacred Way in Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty. Its middle section runs east-west and is called Shi Xiang Road. It is lined with several pairs of stone sculptured animals guarding the tomb. Each animal is postured differently and each conveys an auspicious meaning. For example, the lions, king of the animals, show the stateliness of the emperors, the camels, symbol of desert and tropical areas, indicate the vast territory of the dynasty and the elephants imply that the policies of the dynasty are to meet the desire of the grass root and the stabilization of the dynasty.

Stone Lion in the Sacred Way

Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty, Nanjing

Beyond the animals is a pair of decorative columns called Hua Biao that are carved with dragons. From here the Sacred Way turns into a north-south direction and becomes known at Weng Zhong Road. This location is marked by stone carved statues of ministers and generals. Different from the straight sacred ways in the former dynasties, the Sacred Way at Xiaoling Mausoleum goes in different directions making it unique and unprecedented in Chinese history.
 

Tablet carried by Bixi,  a leganday animal

Continuing north along the Sacred Way, you will reach the main body of Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty. There you will start from the Golden Water Bridge (Jin Shui Qiao) and arrive at the main gate named Wen Wu Archway. Outside the gate, there is a stone tablet with words carved in six languages notifying visitors of the importance of the mausoleum.You next arrive at the Xiao Ling Hall, the main structure of the mausoleum. It was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was smaller in size than the original. Figures of Emperor Chengzu and Queen Ma are hanging inside on the wall.

There are also a variety of sculptures depicting various scenes like the 'Two Dragons Playing with the Pearl', 'the Heavenly Horses Flying in the Sky' and 'the Blazing Sun over the Country'. Then you will come to Fang Cheng (a castle-like building) and Ming Lou (a structure built in palace style with four walls left only). They are both innovations of the Ming Dynasty. The last part is Bao Cheng that looks like a massif and the tomb of Emperor Chengzu and Queen Ma is just beneath.
 

1. Take Metro line 2 to Muxuyuan, and leave from Exit 1. Walk north fpr 20 minutes to get there.
2. Take bus 20, 315, or G5 to Mingxiaoling (Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty).
Nanjing Bus / Metro Search
 

Entrance Fee	CNY 70
Opening Hours	Mar. - Nov.: 6:30 - 18:30 Dec. - Feb. next year: 7:00 - 17:30 Ming Xiaoling Museum: 9:00 - 17:00

Tips:
The nearby attraction sites Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and Linggu Temple are easily to reach from Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty by sightseeing bus, battery car or small train. The sightseeing bus, small train and battery car ticket is CNY 10 per person, and the tourist special line costs CNY 2 for a single trip.

 Further Reading
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Further Reading:
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