Tomb of Wang Zhaojun

Tomb of Wang Zhaojun

The Tomb of Wang Zhaojun is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tomb of Wang Zhaojun, also known as the "Green Tomb," and called "Temür Urkhu" in Mongolian meaning "Iron Mound," is situated by the Dahei River, 9 kilometers south of Hohhot on the Hohhot-Qinghe Highway in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is the burial site of Wang Zhaojun, the renowned Han Dynasty imperial consort, as recorded in historical texts and passed down in folklore. Originally built during the Western Han Dynasty in the pre-Christian era, it has a rich history spanning more than 2,000 years.

Wang Zhaojun, whose given name was Qiang, courtesy name Zhaojun, and childhood name Haoyue, was a native of Zigui in Nan Commandery (present-day Xingshan County, Hubei Province) and of Han ethnicity. She became the consort of Huhanxie Chanyu of the Xiongnu. Selected to join the imperial harem during the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han, she volunteered to marry Huhanxie Chanyu when he came to the Han court to request a marriage alliance in the first year of the Jingning era (33 BCE). She was later honored as Ninghu Yanzhi (Consort Who Pacifies the Hu) and left behind the widely celebrated story of "Zhaojun Going Beyond the Frontier."

The present-day Tomb of Zhaojun was reconstructed in the 1970s. It covers an area of 3.3 hectares, stands 33 meters high, and has a platform-like structure with a pavilion on top. It is an artificial earthen mound that serves as a symbolic tomb containing her clothing and crown. As one of China’s largest Han tombs, it is covered with lush green grass, hence earning the name "Green Tomb." On the east side of the tomb site are inscribed stelae by notable figures throughout history, while the west side houses an exhibition room for cultural relics. The towering and majestic Green Tomb presents a captivating view from afar, appearing as a dark, misty silhouette as if brushed with thick ink. Historically praised by literati as "Emerald Mound Cloaked in Azure," it is recognized as one of Hohhot’s Eight Scenic Spots.

In May 2006, the Tomb of Wang Zhaojun was approved by the State Council as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, designated as an ancient tomb from the Han Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units