Tomb of Xiao Daheng

Tomb of Xiao Daheng

The Tomb of Xiao Daheng is a cultural tourism attraction.

Tomb of Xiao Daheng

Located on an earthen mound to the south of Jinniu Mountain, between Donglin and Xilin Villages in Manzhuang Town, Daiyue District, surrounded by mountains and water. Here stands a grand, exquisitely crafted, and well-preserved group of stone carvings covering an area of 28 acres, designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit.

Xiao Daheng was a prominent politician and military strategist of the Ming Dynasty who served across the reigns of the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli emperors, eventually rising to the rank of Grand Tutor and Minister of War and Punishments. For centuries, the tales of Xiao Daheng—such as “exempting the imperial grain tax, ingeniously building the beamless hall; presenting tribute fish, trading loaches for red-scaled carp; erecting ornamental pillars, outsmarting powerful ministers; setting wooden stakes, strategically relocating the feng shui site; and studying diligently, cultivating himself into a great talent”—have been passed down through generations in the Tai'an region.

These stories have been handed down through generations in the Tai'an area.

After Xiao Daheng’s death in the 40th year of the Wanli era (1612), Emperor Shenzong of Ming ordered the construction of his tomb, which was completed in the 45th year of Wanli (1617). The tomb is nestled against the mountain and near the water, facing south with its back to the north. It features two stone memorial archways in the front and rear, each 10 meters high and 9 meters wide with four pillars and three gates. A pair of ornamental columns, each 11 meters tall and hexagonal in shape, stand majestically, adorned with carvings of swirling clouds along their entire surface—graceful, exquisite, and unbelievably crafted. Two pairs of stone statues of officials stand facing each other, one pair of stone horses appear leisurely, a pair of stone sheep look peaceful and serene, and a pair of stone tigers sit firmly like dogs. From a distance, the entire tomb complex appears partially hidden in the rising mist, majestic and delicate, splendid yet refined, resembling the Moon Palace in the heavens.

Manzhuang Town: Manzhuang Town administers 6 management areas, 43 administrative villages, has a population of 70,000, cultivable land of 78,000 mu, and covers a total area of 113 square kilometers. It is one of the two zones in Tai’an City’s “one city, two zones” development plan. In 2000, it was designated as a provincial-level central town. The town boasts complete urban infrastructure and a rational layout plan. Currently, its built-up area spans 40,000 square kilometers with a population of 25,000, making it an increasingly prosperous satellite city adjacent to Tai’an.

Manzhuang Town enjoys convenient transportation and a prime geographical location. National Highway 104, the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway, and the Beijing-Shanghai Railway all pass through the town, with stations located in the town center... More detailed information about Manzhuang Town++