Dongling Park

Dongling Park

Dongling Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Dongling Park

Originally named Fuling, it was the mausoleum of Nurhaci, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and his empress, Yehenara. Due to its location east of Shenyang City, it is commonly known as "Dongling." The construction of Fuling began in 1629 and was largely completed in 1651 after 23 years. Further expansions were made during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was turned into Dongling Park, transforming the former imperial forbidden area into a popular leisure and recreational destination for the public.

The mausoleum is situated on Tianzhu Mountain, 10 kilometers east of Shenyang City. The area boasts a majestic terrain with rolling hills, a serene environment, and spectacular scenery. Towering pines and cypresses create a lush, verdant landscape. With the surging Hun River in front and the continuous Tianzhu Mountain behind, the site is enveloped by clear waters and embraced by green hills, its thousands of pine trees layered in rich green, while grand halls reach toward the clouds, evoking a uniquely solemn atmosphere.

The mausoleum was ingeniously designed to follow the mountain’s contours, built on a flat area at the mountaintop and connected to the foot of the hill by 108 stone steps, creating a one-of-a-kind architectural form. From a distance, the magnificent red walls and green tiles are nestled among the lush pines and cypresses, while the grand structures of the imperial tomb blend harmoniously with the surrounding lake and mountain views, resembling a traditional Chinese landscape painting. As a result, it is hailed as one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Shenyang"—"Tianzhu Arrayed in Green." Being an imperial mausoleum, Fuling is naturally considered a "feng shui treasure land." The selection of this feng shui site is also tied to a legend. After Nurhaci’s death, to ensure that his descendants would forever remain emperors, Hong Taiji sent people far and wide to find an auspicious burial site for the “dragon body.” Eventually, they identified the feng shui spot at the foot of Tianzhu Mountain. With the Hun River in front and the Datai Mountain behind, and the Xinglong Ridge in between, there is a saying: “A ridge sandwiched between two mountains ensures emperors in every generation.” Not only is Tianzhu Mountain flanked by mountains and water with dense forests, but it also features numerous springs with crystal-clear, sweet-tasting water that nourish the area all year round—truly a rare and precious feng shui treasure. Overjoyed, Hong Taiji had Nurhaci’s remains laid to rest here, planted vast pine forests, and constructed grand palaces, resulting in the beautiful Dongling we see today.