Ming Shu Tombs

Ming Shu Tombs

The Ming Shu Tombs are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ming Shu Tombs are the imperial burial complex of the royal family of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Dating back 564 years, they were excavated in 1979. The Ming Shu Tombs are centered around the tomb of the third Ming Prince of Shu, Prince Xi, and form the most concentrated cluster of ten imperial tombs in the surrounding area, including the Tomb of Princess Zhao, Consort of Prince Xi, the Tomb of the Second Consort of Prince Xi, the Tomb of Prince Qianjiang, the Tomb of Prince Huai, the Tomb of Prince Hui, the Tomb of Prince Zhao, the Tomb of Prince Cheng, the Tomb of the Second Consort of Prince Cheng, and the Tomb of the Half-Side Prince. The district where they are located, Shiling Subdistrict in Longquanyi District, was named after them.

Two tombs within the Ming Shu Tombs have been excavated so far: the Tomb of Prince Xi and the Tomb of Prince Zhao. The Tomb of Prince Xi was excavated and cleared by archaeologists in 1979, yielding over 500 precious artifacts, including colored-glazed terracotta warriors, horses, dancers, and musicians. The underground palace measures 28 meters in length, 8.96 meters in width, and 6.59 meters in height, with reconstructed staircases alone stretching 44 meters. At the center of the rear hall’s main wall is an inlaid circular openwork, gold-traced, colored-glazed plate featuring two dragons, a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty art. The pair of human-headed dragons in the Tomb of Prince Zhao, modeled after Zhu Yuanzhang, are unique in all of China. The Western Tomb is more majestic than the Tomb of Wang Jian (the Yongling Tomb) and more exquisite than the Ming Thirteen Tombs in Beijing. Its exquisitely carved details, powerful calligraphy, lavish underground palace, and the concentration of tombs have earned it the reputation as the most refined and densely packed underground imperial palace among ancient Chinese imperial mausoleums.

In 1996, the Ming Shu Tombs were designated as part of the fourth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

The Ming Shu Tombs are located within the Shiling Municipal Park in Shiling Subdistrict, with a history of 564 years, and are the imperial tomb complex of the Ming Princes of Shu. Centered around the tomb of the third Ming Prince of Shu, Prince Xi, they form a cluster of ten closely located tombs.

The Ming Shu Tombs are centered around the tomb of the third Ming Prince of Shu, Prince Xi, forming the most concentrated cluster of ten imperial tombs in the surrounding area, including the Tomb of Princess Zhao, Consort of Prince Xi, the Tomb of the Second Consort of Prince Xi, the Tomb of Prince Qianjiang, the Tomb of Prince Huai, the Tomb of Prince Hui, the Tomb of Prince Zhao, the Tomb of Prince Cheng, the Tomb of the Second Consort of Prince Cheng, and the Tomb of the Half-Side Prince. The town of Shiling derives its name from these tombs.

Among the Shiling Tombs, two have been excavated so far: the Tomb of Prince Xi and the Tomb of Prince Zhao. The Tomb of Prince Xi was excavated and cleared by archaeologists in 1979, yielding over 500 precious artifacts, including colored-glazed terracotta warriors, horses, dancers, and musicians. The underground palace measures 28 meters in length, 8.96 meters in width, and 6.59 meters in height, with reconstructed staircases alone stretching 44 meters. At the center of the rear hall’s main wall is an inlaid circular openwork, gold-traced, colored-glazed plate featuring two dragons, a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty art. The pair of human-headed dragons in the Tomb of Prince Zhao, modeled after Zhu Yuanzhang, are unique in all of China. The Western Tomb is more majestic than the Tomb of Wang Jian (the Yongling Tomb) and more exquisite than the Ming Thirteen Tombs in Beijing. Its exquisitely carved details, powerful calligraphy, lavish underground palace, and the concentration of tombs have earned it the reputation as the most refined and densely packed underground imperial palace among ancient Chinese imperial mausoleums.

1. Ming Shu Tombs

(1) Tomb of Prince Xi & Tomb of Prince Zhao (Longquanyi District)

Protected Area: 50 meters extending outward from the midpoint of the central axis of the tomb chamber.

Construction Control Zone: 50 meters extending outward from the protected area.

(2) Tomb of Princess Zhao, Consort of Prince Xi (Longquanyi District)

Protected Area: Based on the center of the tomb mound, extending 53 meters to the northwest, 53 meters to the southeast, 25 meters to the southwest, and 25 meters to the northeast.

Construction Control Zone: 60 meters extending outward from the protected area.

(4) Tomb of the Second Consort of Prince Xi (Longquanyi District)

Protected Area: Based on the center of the tomb mound, extending 53 meters to the northeast, 53 meters to the southwest, 26 meters to the southeast, and 26 meters to the northwest.

Construction Control Zone: 60 meters extending outward from the protected area.

(5) Tomb of Prince Qianjiang (Longquanyi District)

Protected Area: Based on the center of the tomb mound, extending 100 meters to the northeast, 100 meters to the southwest, 50 meters to the northwest, and 50 meters to the southeast.

Construction Control Zone: 120 meters extending outward from the protected area.

(6) Tomb of Prince Cheng (Longquanyi District)

Protected Area: Based on the center of the tomb mound, extending 90 meters to the north, 90 meters to the south, 160 meters to the west, and 160 meters to the east.

Construction Control Zone: 120 meters extending outward from the protected area.

(7) Tomb of the Second Consort of Prince Cheng (Longquanyi District)

Protected Area: Based on the center of the tomb mound, extending 47.5 meters to the north, 47.5 meters to the south, 25 meters to the west, and 25 meters to the east.

Construction Control Zone: 60 meters extending outward from the protected area.

(8) Tomb of Prince Hui (Longquanyi District)

Protected area: Centered on the tomb mound, extending 180 meters along the main axis and 100 meters along the transverse axis.

Construction control zone: Extending 110 meters beyond the protected area.

(9) Banbianfen Princely Tomb (Longquanyi District)

Protected area: Centered on the tomb mound, extending 100 meters northeast, 100 meters southwest, 50 meters northwest, and 50 meters southeast.

Construction control zone: Extending 120 meters beyond the protected area.

(10) Huaiwang Tomb (Caohuangfen Shuwang Tomb) (Jinjiang District)

Protected area: Centered on the tomb mound, extending 112.5 meters north and south, and 65 meters east and west.

Construction control zone: Extending 160 meters beyond the protected area.

2. Zhu Yuebian’s Tomb (Jinniu District)

Protected area: Centered on the tomb chamber's central axis, extending 30 meters east and west, 50 meters south, and 30 meters north.

Construction control zone: Extending 30 meters beyond the protected area

Address: Group 8, Dalang Village, Shiling Town, Longquanyi District, Chengdu City

Type: Museum / Cemetery / Tomb Site

Recommended visiting time: About 2 hours

Phone: 028-84600460

Opening hours:

8:00-18:00

Ticket information:

Door price: 12.0 RMB

Further reading:

· Fourth batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites