Museum of Princess Zhaojun

Museum of Princess Zhaojun

The Museum of Princess Zhaojun is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

The Museum of Princess Zhaojun is located in the southern suburbs of Hohhot City. It consists of the Tomb of Princess Zhaojun and a series of commemorative architectural facilities, covering an area of 205 mu, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

The Tomb of Princess Zhaojun, known in Mongolian as Temür Urhu, meaning "Iron Fortress," is also referred to in historical records as the "Green Tomb." It has been clearly documented since the Tang Dynasty. According to research, it was artificially built up with rammed earth during the Han Dynasty, standing 33 meters high with a base area of 13,000 square meters. It is one of the largest Han tombs in China and a key cultural relic site under state protection. It stands as a historical monument symbolizing ethnic unity, integration, and shared development among different peoples.

Tomb of Princess Zhaojun

Tomb of Princess Zhaojun

Wang Zhaojun, whose given name was Qiang and courtesy name Zhaojun, was a native of Zigui County in Nan Commandery (present-day Xingshan County, Hubei Province) during the Western Han Dynasty. In 37 BCE, she was selected to enter the imperial harem as a candidate concubine for Emperor Yuan of Han. In 33 BCE, amid the mutual desire of the Han and Xiongnu peoples for peaceful relations, Wang Zhaojun volunteered to marry into the Xiongnu tribe and became the wife of the Chanyu (Xiongnu leader), helping to maintain nearly half a century of peace between the two peoples. In Chinese history, Wang Zhaojun is remembered as a great woman who dedicated herself to the cause of ethnic friendship. Among the common people, she is seen as the embodiment of beauty. For thousands of years, her legends and stories have been widely circulated and are well-known across China. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, countless poets, lyricists, painters, and playwrights have written about Zhaojun and expressed their emotions through poetry, lyrics, paintings, and operas, giving rise to the enduring "Culture of Zhaojun."

Tomb of Princess Zhaojun

Tomb of Princess Zhaojun

Entering the Museum of Princess Zhaojun from the south gate, visitors walk along a 380-meter-long Sacred Way lined on both sides with twelve pairs of stone statues. These statues were enlarged and carved based on unearthed Xiongnu animal gold wire plaques, featuring animals closely related to the lives of the Xiongnu people, all silently guarding the Tomb of Princess Zhaojun. On both sides of the Sacred Way stand four symmetrical landmark structures. On the east side, from south to north, there are Han-style buildings: the Heqin Garden and the Hometown Memorial Hall of Princess Zhaojun, reflecting the Han culture represented by Zhaojun’s departure to the frontier. On the west side, from south to north, there are the Xiongnu Culture Museum and the Chanyu’s Yurt, both typical domed tents of northern ethnic minorities, showcasing the grassland culture of the Xiongnu. The two distinct architectural styles complement each other, forming unique commemorative facilities of the Heqin (marriage alliance) culture.

The construction of the Museum of Princess Zhaojun, in terms of display methods and content, fully embodies the theme of Zhaojun’s journey to the frontier, ethnic marriage alliances between the Hu and Han peoples, and national unity. The Xiongnu Museum is currently the first thematic museum in China that comprehensively reflects the history and culture of the Xiongnu. The museum exhibits content in three areas: the history of the Xiongnu, the history of Zhaojun’s journey to the frontier, and displays of Zhaojun-related folk art. Through these exhibits, visitors can gain a detailed understanding of the historical background of Zhaojun’s frontier journey and thereby develop a deep appreciation of the Zhaojun culture formed through the Hu-Han marriage alliance.

In front of the tomb mound, centered around the bronze statue of the Hu-Han marriage alliance on the Sacred Way, there are two Han-style tomb pillars erected on the outer sides and two Xiongnu deer stones on the inner sides. These structures, with their two distinct artistic forms, indicate the identity of the tomb’s occupant. The tomb pillars, located on the eastern and western sides in front of the tomb mound, are small structures symbolizing the identity of the tomb’s owner, standing approximately 9.3 meters tall and weighing about 45 tons. They are typical iconic structures in front of Han tombs. The perfect combination of Han tomb culture and Xiongnu stone sculpture culture creates a striking highlight within the tomb area.

The Chanyu’s Yurt stages two live dance dramas: “Princess Zhaojun” and “The Love Story of Zhaojun,” each approaching the theme of ethnic unity through Zhaojun’s frontier journey from different perspectives and expressive forms. These dramas vividly recreate the historical scenes of peaceful coexistence between the Han and Xiongnu peoples, while also showcasing the cultural depth of Xiongnu history to visitors. Through intuitive artistic expression, the dance dramas greatly broaden the scope and presentation of Zhaojun culture. The bianzhong (ancient Chinese musical instrument) performances held on the first floor of the Heqin Garden, themed around Han imperial court music and the Zhaojun frontier journey, highlight the artistic charm of Han culture from Zhaojun’s hometown. Together with the Xiongnu culture portrayed in “The Love Story of Zhaojun,” they form two uniquely styled artistic representations of Zhaojun culture. In 2013, Li Yugang visited the Museum of Princess Zhaojun for inspiration and discussed the script with experts and scholars from the Zhaojun Culture Research Association while directing and starring in his large-scale poetic stage play “Zhaojun’s Frontier Journey.” This meticulously crafted masterpiece, supported by leading masters such as Mei Shuaiyuan, William Chang, and Vincent Fang, premiered at the Beijing Poly Theatre in April 2015 to widespread acclaim. In this epic production, Li Yugang delivered a heartfelt portrayal of the legendary woman Wang Zhaojun, who left her homeland for the frontier in pursuit of peace and ethnic integration, living a life of great tragedy.

The Qingzhong Cangmo (Green Tomb Ink Repository) covers a construction area of 430 m² and features a Qing Dynasty-linked architectural style. It mainly displays calligraphy and painting works created by people from all walks of life after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in praise of Princess Zhaojun. Among the ink treasures, the most famous is the poem inscribed by Dong Biwu. In October 1963, the then Vice President of China, Comrade Dong Biwu, visited the Tomb of Princess Zhaojun and wrote a quatrain celebrating ethnic unity:

Princess Zhaojun’s legacy will last for a thousand autumns;

Her vision in forging Hu-Han marriage is profound.

Poets may vent their grievances in verse and brush,

But all their literary efforts are in vain.

——“Visiting the Tomb of Princess Zhaojun”

As the most representative tourist attraction in Hohhot, a historic and cultural city, the Museum of Princess Zhaojun, with its unique historical and cultural connotations and beautiful ecological environment, serves as an important destination for visitors to learn about Inner Mongolia and the long history and splendid culture of Hohhot. The site consistently receives around 500,000 visitors annually. It has also hosted more than 150 Party and state leaders, including Xi-, -, and Hu Jintao, as well as numerous notable figures from various sectors of society. This has helped expand its fame, effectively promoting Inner Mongolia and Hohhot, and making positive contributions to the region’s and city’s spiritual civilization and the building of harmonious ethnic relations.

“A pipa melody still played today, the Green Tomb of Zhaojun remains ever new.” The culture of Zhaojun is profound and extensive. As the modern renowned historian Jian Bozan praised: “Wang Zhaojun is no longer just a person, but a symbol—a symbol of ethnic friendship; the Tomb of Zhaojun is not just a grave, but a historical memorial tower of ethnic friendship.” Today’s Tomb of Princess Zhaojun not only houses ancient relics with a long history but also boasts natural scenery filled with birdsong and floral fragrance, along with unique cultural landscapes. Its poetic charm captivates visitors. Like a bright pearl on the northern grasslands, it has become a world-renowned tourist destination.

Source: Tourism Bureau of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region