Anyang Gao Ling

Anyang Gao Ling

Anyang Gao Ling is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Cao Cao's Mausoleum is located in Anfeng Township, Anyang, Henan Province, 12 kilometers west of Ye City, the capital of Cao Cao’s kingdom (present-day Linzhang County, Handan). According to historical records such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao died in Luoyang in 220 AD. His coffin was transported to Ye City and buried in the hills west of the Ximen Bao Temple in Ye.

The layout of Gao Ling is in the shape of the Chinese character "甲" (jiǎ), facing east. It is a large-scale, double-chamber brick-chambered tomb with a sloping passage, featuring a complex structure. It mainly consists of a passage, front and rear chambers, and four side chambers. The sloping passage is 39.5 meters long and 9.8 meters wide, with its deepest point about 15 meters below ground level. The tomb pit is roughly trapezoidal in shape, 22 meters wide on the eastern side, 19.5 meters wide on the western side, and 18 meters long from east to west. The total area of the tomb is approximately 740 square meters.

The discovery of Gao Ling confirms the accuracy of historical records regarding the location of Cao Cao's tomb, his personal preferences, and the simplified burial system he advocated. The excavation findings have established a key chronological benchmark for Han and Wei dynasty archaeology.

Address: South of Xigaoxue Village, Anfeng Township, Anyang County, Anyang City, Henan Province

Tel: 0372-2756977

Official Website: http://www.ayccgl.com/

Opening Hours:

The site is currently not open to the public.

Cao Cao (July 18, 155 – March 15, 220), courtesy name Mengde, also known as Ji Li and nicknamed Aman, was a Han Chinese from Qiao Commandery, Pei State (present-day Bozhou, Anhui Province). He was a renowned military strategist, politician, and poet in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the founder and key builder of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period, and later became King of Wei. After his son Cao Pi ascended to the throne, he was posthumously honored as Emperor Wu of Wei.

Cao Cao’s grandfather, Cao Teng, held an official position during the reign of Emperor Huan of Han and was granted the title Marquis of Feiting. It is said that his father, Cao Song, had an unclear background. The Book of Wei · Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records of the Three Kingdoms states that “his origins cannot be clearly verified,” while the Song dynasty scholar Pei Songzhi... More details on Cao Cao++

Xigaoxue Village: Xigaoxue Village... More details on Xigaoxue Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units