Mausoleum of Yu the Great at Kuaiji Mountain

Mausoleum of Yu the Great at Kuaiji Mountain

The Mausoleum of Yu the Great at Kuaiji Mountain is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a key national cultural heritage site, and a patriotic education base.

The Mausoleum of Yu the Great is one of the important historical sites within the Kuaiji Mountain scenic area and is a national-level cultural heritage site.

Entering the scenic area, visitors are surrounded by clear waters and green trees that set off the beauty of Kuaiji Mountain, creating an atmosphere of timeless elegance. After passing the Nine Dragons Altar, guests will encounter a massive stone memorial archway inscribed with the three characters “大禹陵” (Mausoleum of Yu the Great), which were written by [a leader] during his inspection of the site on May 15, 1995. Leading to the Mausoleum of Yu is a sacred stone path over 350 meters long, which culminates in the Yu Sacrificial Square. The square features structures such as totem poles and the Nine Tripod Platform, symbolizing the beliefs of the ancient Yue people and serving as a site for ceremonies honoring Yu the Great. In front of the Temple of Yu lies a pond, designated as a release pond by the Tang Dynasty poet He Zhizhang and named the Yu Pond. To cross the Yu Pond, visitors must pass over an ancient stone bridge called the Gongcheng Bridge, symbolizing Yu the Great’s successful completion of his ten-year effort to control the floods.

Passing through the Lingxing Gate on the south side of the western gate of the Temple of Yu and following the hundred-meter stone-paved path that ascends along the mountain slope, visitors will reach the Stele Pavilion of the Mausoleum of Yu. Inside the pavilion stands a stone stele inscribed with the three large characters “大禹陵” (Mausoleum of Yu the Great), written by Nan Daji, the prefect of Shaoxing in the Ming Dynasty. In 1939, [Premier] visited the Mausoleum of Yu for a sacrificial ceremony and took a photo in front of this stele.

To the south of the Mausoleum of Yu Stele is the Yu Ancestral Hall, and on the north side outside the hall stands the “Yu Cave” stele. Inside the hall is the “Debate on the Yu Cave” stele, which contains an essay verifying the burial site of Yu the Great. The hall includes structures such as the front hall, rear hall, release pond, winding corridors, and the Yu Well Pavilion, serving as a place for rituals by descendants of Yu the Great.

To the north of the Mausoleum of Yu Stele Pavilion, descending along the stele corridor, one arrives at the Temple of Yu, a site used by emperors, government officials, and common people throughout history to worship Yu the Great.

The Temple of Yu was first built in the 11th year of the Datong era during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties (545 AD) and is one of the few large-scale ancient architectural complexes in southern China. From the Mausoleum of Yu, visitors enter through the eastern gate and proceed from south to north past structures including the screen wall, the Goulou Stele Pavilion, the Lingxing Gate, the Meridian Gate, the Sacrificial Hall, and the Main Hall.

Exiting the east gate of the Yu the Great Hall and ascending upward, visitors can explore the “Biànshí Pavilion” (Burial Stone Pavilion). Inside the pavilion is a stone known as the “Biànshí” (Burial Stone), where “biàn” means to bury or lower into the ground. Legend has it that this stone was used as a tool in the burial of Yu the Great. Shaped like a steelyard weight with a hole at the top, it is considered the treasured relic of the Temple of Yu and has been well preserved.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Key National Cultural Heritage Sites