Shishi Dun (Stone Chamber Mounds) on Yushan Mountain

Shishi Dun (Stone Chamber Mounds) on Yushan Mountain

The Shishi Dun (Stone Chamber Mounds) on Yushan Mountain are a protected cultural heritage site of Suzhou City.

Shishi Dun (Stone Chamber Mounds) on Yushan Mountain

Located starting from Zhongyong’s Tomb on the eastern ridge of Yushan Mountain and extending westward to Xiaoshidong, spanning a total distance of about 10 kilometers, approximately 200 such mounds have been discovered within this area. The stone chamber mounds are distributed along the mountain range, often grouped in threes or fives in triangular formations, situated at mountaintop ridges, crossroads on slopes, and other strategic locations. Larger mounds have diameters of about 20 to 15 meters and heights of 8 to 5 meters. Smaller mounds have diameters of about 8 to 5 meters and heights of around 3 to 2 meters. Their construction consists of long rectangular chambers built with long strip-shaped stones and stone slabs from the mountain, wider at the base and narrower at the top. These are sealed with large stone blocks at the top and then covered with earthen mounds shaped like buns or overturned boats. Most have a passageway on one end, usually facing west. In 1982, the Changshu Museum and the Suzhou Museum conducted key excavations on a large mound south of Weimo Temple, unearthing primitive celadon bowls, dou (bean vessels), jars, and other artifacts. The archaeological community has proposed various theories regarding their function, including burial sites, military facilities, ceremonial structures, and dwellings. In 2000, the Changshu Museum and the Suzhou Museum jointly excavated the Wu King’s Command Platform at the highest point of the western ridge of Yushan, which is currently the largest known Shishi Dun in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region. It was designated as a cultural heritage protection unit of Changshu City in November 1982.