Tomb of Emperor Yao

Tomb of Emperor Yao

The Tomb of Emperor Yao is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Emperor Yao was one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and is revered by later generations as the "Ancestor of Civilization" and the "Father of the Nation." The Tomb of Emperor Yao is located in Dayang Town, Yaodu District, Linfen City, commonly known as the "Sacred Grove." It stands 50 meters tall and has a circumference of 300 meters, making it the most majestic and grand among the known tombs of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. The tomb is surrounded by mountains and water on all sides, and in ancient times, it was described as “a mound embraced by mountains and waters.” The temple structures at the Tomb of Emperor Yao are said to have been built in the early Tang Dynasty, with renovations carried out during the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The existing stele erected in the 18th year of the Ming Jiajing reign (1539) depicts a full view of the tomb. In 1986, it was designated as a Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In 2006, it was listed in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

With strong support from both the city and district governments, the largest-scale restoration and construction project in the history of the Tomb of Emperor Yao commenced on April 3, 2007. By the end of December 2008, the first phase of the restoration project was completed. This included repairs within the tomb area, slope protection along the Lao River, the bridge in front of the tomb, the plaza in front of the tomb, an overflow dam on the Lao River, the Red Dragon Wall, roads, and road greening. The investment amounted to 660 million yuan.

According to the overall plan, the scenic area of the Tomb of Emperor Yao covers a visitable area of 10 square kilometers. Major construction projects include the Emperor Yao Worship Area, the Emperor Yao Sacrificial Area, and the Yaodu Folk Culture Park, along with supporting basic service facilities and 10 square kilometers of landscaping. All planned construction projects were completed by the end of December 2012, with a total investment of 460 million yuan. The completed Tomb of Emperor Yao Scenic Area integrates the six major functions of sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, dining, accommodation, and transportation. It has become a large-scale tourist attraction with high cultural taste and a top-tier historical and cultural tourism destination in China that combines cultural relics preservation, worship and commemoration, and leisure tourism.

Dayang Town: Dayang Town is a newly established town formed in March 2001 through the merger of the former Dayang Town and Guohang Township, located 16 kilometers from the city. Situated in the eastern hilly region of Yaodu District, it borders Fushan Mountain to the south, Hongtong to the north, Guxian to the east, and DuanDian to the west. The area features a mix of valleys and slopes with undulating hills, covering a total area of 102.7 square kilometers. It governs 34 administrative villages, 50 natural villages, 7,287 households, and a population of 29,117, with 70,000 mu of arable land. By the end of 2002, there were 14,591 rural employees, including 6,625 female laborers, 8,681 engaged in agriculture, and industrial… More details about Dayang Town++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units