Tomb of Hong Bao

Tomb of Hong Bao

The Tomb of Hong Bao is a protected cultural heritage site under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province.

The Tomb of Hong Bao is located on Zutang Mountain in Jiangning District, Nanjing. It was excavated by the Nanjing Museum during a rescue archaeological operation at the Nanjing Zutang Mountain Social Welfare Institute. The tomb belongs to Hong Bao, a eunuch who served as the vice commander of Zheng He’s fleet during the voyages to the Western Seas.

The Tomb of Hong Bao is situated on the uppermost terrace of the three-tiered platform on the southern slope of Zutang Mountain, where the available space is relatively limited. As such, the original design plan proposed a tomb protection area spanning only 1,300 square meters. Based on recommendations from an expert review meeting, the new plan expanded the protected area and retained the original central axis of the tomb as the spatial axis of the site, preserving as much as possible the original spatial feel of the burial chamber.

Taking advantage of the elevation changes across the terrace, the Tomb of Hong Bao site features three-tiered “viewing platforms”—from bottom to top, they are the entrance plaza, the tomb passage entrance platform, and the observation deck, creating a layered visitor experience. The lower-level entrance plaza uses a sunken design, allowing visitors to ascend via steps to the second-level tomb passage entrance platform, from which they can view the entrance of the tomb passage and the vaulted ceiling structure of the front chamber. Further up lies a circular observation deck where visitors can walk around the tomb and take in the entire structure from above.

Unlike many other heritage sites, the core burial area of the Tomb of Hong Bao is not enclosed by walls or fences. Instead, it features an open design from the top down through the front and rear chambers, facilitating easy access for visitors. According to the design plans, the architectural concept of the burial area is based on the traditional Chinese philosophy of “round sky and square earth”: a circular lightweight steel and glass structure will be installed above the observation platform, symbolizing the round burial mound used in traditional Chinese tombs and creating a visual dialogue with the rectangular tomb below. This glass canopy acts like a “sunroom,” protecting the relics from rain and UV damage while also providing ample natural light to enhance the visitor experience.

In January 2012, as a significant discovery during the third national cultural relics census, the tomb of Hong Bao—a Ming Dynasty eunuch unearthed on the southern slope of Zutang Mountain in Nanjing—was “exceptionally” included in the seventh batch of provincial-level protected cultural heritage sites.

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units