Yongchang Mausoleum

Yongchang Mausoleum

Yongchang Mausoleum is located to the north of Xicun Town in Gongyi City and is the tomb of Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty. To its east lies the Yong’an Mausoleum of his father Zhao Hongyin, the Xuanzu Emperor, and to its west is the Yongxi Mausoleum of his brother Zhao Guangyi, the Taizong Emperor. It is said that Yongchang Mausoleum was personally chosen by Zhao Kuangyin. After paying homage to his parents’ tombs, he climbed to the watchtower, lamented the swift passage of time, and then took out his bow and arrow to shoot towards the northwest. He told his ministers that wherever the arrow landed would be his “imperial tomb,” and he named it Yongchang.

Yongchang Mausoleum is relatively well-preserved. The mound is about 15 meters high, with a gate on each of the east, west, south, and north sides, and a pair of stone lions placed outside each gate. Outside the southern gate and north of the stone lions stands a pair of guardian warriors; inside the southern gate and in front of the mound are two pairs of palace attendants. The spirit way between the southern gate and the breast mound is 45 meters wide from east to west, with various symmetrical stone statues lining either side. Currently, 37 pieces remain, but missing are one elephant trainer on the east side, two foreign envoys on the east side, three horse handlers on the west side, two foreign envoys on the west side, and one warrior on the west side.

Additionally, at Yongchang Mausoleum you can see the only sheep-headed auspicious bird among the Song Dynasty imperial tombs. There are also two unusually crafted warrior statues: one has an extremely large helmet that covers even his ears, holding his weapon in a slightly off-balance stance; the other, though tall, holds a tiny miniature axe and wears a smiling expression.

Special Notes

The stone carvings are scattered across the fields. When visiting, please be careful not to step on local farmers’ crops.

Address: To the north of Xicun Town, Gongyi City, Zhengzhou

Type: Historical site / Tomb

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Opening hours:

Open all day

Ticket information:

No admission fee.