Tomb of the Nine Maidens

　　The Tomb of the Nine Maidens is located east of Zhaolou Village, Liuzhentun Township, to the south of the county seat. It was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit in 1962. Investigations from the Republican period noted: Among the tombs in Chen lands, only this one shows deliberate arrangement — a central tomb covering over ten acres with a height of fifty-six feet. Slightly forward lies a smaller mound, referred to by locals as the “Incense Pavilion,” believed to be the spot where incense was burned for the graves. To the left are two mounds, and to the right another two, each set several dozen steps apart and facing each other. On the eastern and western sides, there is one more mound each, with the western side having two connected mounds. Behind the large eastern tomb are five connected mounds, slightly smaller in size than the main tomb, followed by another two linked mounds. Their forms are also somewhat smaller. This layout corresponds with the record in the Chronicles of Chenzhou Prefecture: “In the center lies the royal tomb, flanked by those of noble officials, with the seven behind belonging to the consorts.” In 1953, a three-story green-glazed pottery tower from the Eastern Han Dynasty was unearthed inside the tomb. In 1972, nearby villages excavated the site to improve soil quality by applying sand pressure. The central burial chamber had a stone vault, with the outer two layers constructed of brick arches — both the stones and bricks were curved, showing fine craftsmanship. At that time, several looting holes were found, and all artifacts had been stolen. Later, the structure was gradually dug away, leaving behind a pit.

　　Information source: Huaiyang Government Website