Mingde Mausoleum

Mingde Mausoleum

The Mingde Mausoleum is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Mingde Mausoleum is located on the western foothills of Tanyu Ridge. It is the joint burial mausoleum of the 15th emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xizong (Temple name: Zhu Youjiao, era name: Tianqi), and his empress, Empress Zhang.

Emperor Xizong, Zhu Youjiao, was the eldest son of Emperor Guangzong. He was born on November 14, 1605 (the 33rd year of the Wanli reign). He ascended to the throne on September 6, 1620 (the first year of the Taichang reign) and changed the era name to Tianqi the following year. He passed away on August 22, 1627 (the seventh year of the Tianqi reign) at the age of 23, and was posthumously given the temple name “Da Tian Chan Dao Dun Xiao Du You Zhang Wen Xiang Wu Jing Mu Zhuang Qin Emperor.” He was buried in the De Mausoleum on March 8, 1628 (the first year of the Chongzhen reign). Historical records describe Emperor Xizong as “extremely ingenious, multi-talented, and particularly fond of construction.” He once personally used axes, saws, chisels, and planes to build small pavilions, “with carvings so exquisitely fine that even skilled craftsmen could not match them.” When engrossed in his work, he would even strip naked and sit cross-legged on the ground. He “did not care for finished objects or spare natural resources,” often dismantling things at will for momentary amusement.

Empress Zhang was Emperor Xizong’s original empress. She was from Xiangfu, Henan, and the daughter of Taikang Marquis Zhang Guoji. She was appointed as empress in April 1621 (the first year of the Tianqi reign). In 1644 (the 17th year of the Chongzhen reign), when the peasant army of Li Zicheng entered the city, she hanged herself. The Hongguang Court of the Southern Ming honored her posthumously with the title “Filial and Lamented Empress.” In 1644 (the first year of the Shunzhi reign), the Qing Dynasty had her buried in the De Mausoleum.

Shisanling Town: A township under the jurisdiction of Changping County. Established as Tailingyuan Township in 1956, renamed Shisanling Commune in 1958, and became Shisanling Township in 1982. Located in the northern part of the county, 1 kilometer from the county seat, it covers an area of 67.9 square kilometers with a population of 14,000. National Highways 108 and 110 pass through the area. It administers 16 village committees including Jian Tou, Shipai Fang, Nan Xin Cun, Xian Ren Dong, Da Gong Men, Kang Ling Yuan, Wang Zhuang, Tai Ling Yuan, Hu Zhuang, Xi Shan Kou, Xiao Gong Men, Dao Ling Jian, Wan Niang Fen, Desheng Kou, Guo Zhuang, and Chang Ling Yuan, as well as one neighborhood committee, Bei Xin Cun. It is one of Beijing’s top ten fruit-producing townships, known for its flat-peach persimmons... More details about Shisanling Town++

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