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Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum

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Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum — The hometown of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, known to historians as the Land of Emperor Gaozu and commonly referred to as the Ancestral Land of the Han Emperors. It is located about seven kilometers northwest of Fengcheng on the north side of the Fengdan Highway in Jinliuzhai Village, Zhaozhuang Town. The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum sits beside Baiyin River to the west of the village. This is the birthplace and childhood home of Liu Bang, as well as the cradle of Han culture. Hence, it has been renowned both in ancient times and today, celebrated across the world as the Land of Han. It has attracted generations of dignitaries, scholars, especially descendants of the Liu family, to visit, study, trace their roots, and pay homage. Since Liu Bang founded the great Han Dynasty and established the far-reaching Han culture that influenced China and beyond, he has been regarded by historians as the founding ancestor of the Han. Commonly called the Han Imperial Forest, this site is where the tomb of Liu Qing — the great-grandfather of Liu Bang and a physician of the Wei Kingdom — is located. The Baiyin River flows past the northwest side of the mausoleum. The location enjoys convenient transportation and beautiful scenery, making it a sacred destination visited by notable figures throughout history. The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum centers around the tomb of Liu Qing. Directly to the north stands the Liu Clan Ancestral Hall, named Hanli Ancestral Hall. In the northeast corner is the temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, called Xiwang Temple. In the northwest corner is the temple of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, named Dongwang Temple. On the east side is the temple commemorating the Peach Garden Oath of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, called Sanyi Temple. To the west is the Temple of the Dark Emperor, and at the front is the Han Imperial Grand Hall. In front of the hall is the Mausoleum Gate, before which extends a magnificent kilometer-long Sacred Path lined with large stone sculptures of figures such as statues, horses, and ministers — hailed as a scenic wonder of ancient Feng. Due to dynastic changes and repeated flooding of the Yellow River, many historical relics were damaged. To promote Han imperial culture, develop tourism, and boost Fengxian’s economy, descendants of Liu Bang took the lead in initiating restoration efforts, strongly supported by governments at all levels and funded through collective contributions. On November 9, 1990, large-scale restoration of the Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum began. After three years, the original historical appearance was largely restored. The mausoleum is divided into two main courtyards: front and rear. The front courtyard houses a classical-style Han Imperial Grand Hall along with east and west wing rooms. The grand hall displays portraits, statues, introductions, and inscriptions from notable individuals related to the Twenty-Four Emperors of Han. The east wing room exhibits the life story of Liu Bang, the Han Emperor Gaozu who pioneered the era of commoner emperors. The west wing room showcases the global presence of Liu descendants, featuring portraits and photos of leaders of the Liu Clan Associations from all over the world, both past and present. Majestic stone lions guard the sides of the Mausoleum Gate, presenting a grand and solemn sight. Inside the courtyard, lush pines and cypresses thrive, alongside uniquely beautiful flowers and plants, exuding the rich atmosphere of a royal garden. The rear courtyard features the mound-like tomb of Liu Qing and a forest of steles honoring Liu Bang’s illustrious ancestors. On both sides of the tomb stand two ancient stone tablets engraved with “Land of Han” and “Emperor Gaozu of Western Han,” accompanied by stele pavilions. Descendants of the Liu Clan from around the world often gather here to conduct worship ceremonies.

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The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum is a cultural tourism attraction.

Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum

The hometown of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty in Feng County, has been recognized by historians as the Land of Emperor Gaozu and is commonly called the Ancestral Land of the Han Emperors. It is situated approximately seven kilometers northwest of Fengcheng, on the north side of the Fengdan Highway in Jinliuzhai Village, Zhaozhuang Town. The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum lies beside Baiyin River to the west of the village. As this is the birthplace and childhood home of Liu Bang, as well as the origin of Han culture, it has been widely celebrated throughout history and is known worldwide as the Land of Han. Over the ages, it has drawn visits from officials, scholars, especially descendants of the Liu family, for sightseeing, academic research, tracing roots, and ancestral worship. As Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty and created the influential Han culture with global impact, historians refer to him as the founding ancestor of Han. The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum is commonly known as the Han Imperial Forest. It is the burial site of Liu Qing — Liu Bang’s great-grandfather and a physician of the Wei State. The Baiyin River flows past the northwest side of the mausoleum. With convenient transportation and picturesque scenery, it has been a revered destination for notable individuals throughout history. The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum is centered around the tomb of Liu Qing. Directly north lies the Liu Clan Ancestral Hall, named Hanli Ancestral Hall. In the northeast corner is the temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, called Xiwang Temple. In the northwest corner is the temple of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, called Dongwang Temple. To the east is the temple commemorating the Peach Garden Oath of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, called Sanyi Temple. To the west is the Temple of the Dark Emperor. At the front is the Han Imperial Grand Hall, preceded by the Mausoleum Gate. In front of the gate lies an impressive one-kilometer-long Sacred Path, flanked by large stone carvings including statues of figures, horses, and ministers — hailed as a scenic highlight of ancient Feng. Due to dynastic transitions and repeated breaches of the Yellow River, many historical sites were damaged. To promote Han imperial culture, develop tourism resources, and revitalize the economy of Feng County, restoration of the Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum began on November 9, 1990, led by descendants of Liu Bang, with strong support from governments at all levels and funding from various sources. The project took three years and largely restored the site to its historical appearance. The mausoleum is divided into two major courtyards — front and rear. The front courtyard contains a classical-style Han Imperial Grand Hall along with east and west wing rooms. The grand hall displays portraits, statues, descriptions, and inscriptions from the Twenty-Four Emperors of Han, as well as calligraphy from notable individuals. The east wing room features an exhibition on the life of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, who initiated the era of commoner emperors. The west wing room displays portraits and photos of leaders of Liu Clan Associations worldwide, highlighting how the descendants of Liu are spread across the globe. Guarding the sides of the Mausoleum Gate are majestic stone lions, adding to the solemn and imposing atmosphere. The courtyard is filled with lush pines, cypresses, vibrant flowers, and plants, radiating the grandeur of a royal garden. The rear courtyard features the mound-like tomb of Liu Qing, as well as a forest of steles commemorating Liu Bang’s illustrious ancestors. Beside the tomb are two ancient stone tablets inscribed with “Land of Han” and “Emperor Gaozu of Western Han,” along with stele pavilions. Descendants of the Liu Clan from home and abroad frequently gather in this courtyard to perform worship rituals.

Since its restoration, the Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum has drawn significant attention from people worldwide. Countless scholars, poets, government officials, celebrities, and businesspeople have visited for sightseeing, research, and exchanges. Especially noteworthy are the continuous streams of Liu Clan descendants from both China and abroad who come to trace their roots and visit relatives. Since opening in 1992, large groups of Liu Clan members from around the world have made annual pilgrimages to seek their origins, generously contributing funds and volunteering their support. These visitors come from more than ten countries and regions, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Spain, Japan, Myanmar, Indonesia, and others, totaling several thousand people. Under the leadership of Liu Hengxin, the 73rd-generation descendant of Liu Bang and initiator of the Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum, the Han Ancestral Land and Han Imperial Mausoleum have served as unifying bonds. This led to the establishment of the World Liu Clan Federation and the Chinese Liu Clan Federation, facilitating extensive international and domestic exchanges in culture, economy, art, medicine, and other fields. The World Federation convenes every two years and has held three meetings—in Johor, Malaysia; Xuzhou, China; Bangkok, Thailand; and Pingdingshan, China—establishing organizations such as the Global Liu Clan Han Culture Research Association, Entrepreneurs Association, and Arts Association to advance the development of Han culture, revitalization of national economies, and the reunification of the motherland. The Han Imperial Ancestral Mausoleum has become a universally recognized ancestral site and sacred pilgrimage destination for the global Liu Clan, as well as a place acknowledged by scholars worldwide as the birthplace of Han culture.

Source: Fengxian County Website, China

Zhaozhuang Town: Located 15 kilometers northwest of Fengxian County, Zhaozhuang Town sits at the junction of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui provinces. It lies on an alluvial plain with fertile soil, producing abundant grain and cotton. Covering an area of 91 square kilometers, it has 5,000 hectares of arable land, averaging 0.07 hectares per person. The town governs 18 administrative villages, 114 natural villages, and 137 villager groups. It has a total population of 65,579 across 19,528 households, including 61,584 agricultural residents, and is home to 15 individuals from nine ethnic minorities, including Hui and Korean.

Zhaozhuang has a long history, rich cultural heritage, and simple folk customs. According to legend... More details about Zhaozhuang Town ++