A Must-Visit for Qing Dynasty Fans! At Yongzheng's Tai Mausoleum, Discover the Brotherhood of "Fourth Prince" and "Thirteenth Prince"
The Spirit Way of Tai Mausoleum is particularly solemn under the winter sun. As your fingers trace the weathered stone figures, it's as if you can touch the trust and reliance, transcending the relationship of monarch and subject, between that diligent emperor and his most capable brother from three hundred years ago.
The Western Qing Tombs, located in Yixian County, Hebei Province, is one of the two major imperial tomb complexes built after the Qing dynasty entered Shanhai Pass. Four emperors—Yongzheng, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Guangxu—are buried here. Among them, Emperor Yongzheng's Tai Mausoleum is the grandest in scale and most complete in system, and behind it lies a rare and genuine brotherhood within the imperial family.
01 Key Highlights: More Than Just a Mausoleum, It's a Story of Historical Brotherhood
"Fourth Prince" Yongzheng and "Thirteenth Prince" Yinxiang: Visiting Tai Mausoleum and learning about that period of history, it's hard not to think of the characters from TV dramas like "Yongzheng Dynasty." Historical records show that the site selection, planning, and early construction of Tai Mausoleum were personally supervised by Yongzheng's most trusted brother, Prince Yi Yinxiang. Yinxiang, due to overwork, passed away before Yongzheng. Walking through the mausoleum, you perceive not only imperial majesty but also a profound sense of trust and regret.
A Microcosm of the "Sinicization" of Qing Burial Customs: Tai Mausoleum clearly demonstrates the complete adoption of Han culture in burial customs by the Manchu Qing imperial family after entering Shanhai Pass. From the "cremation" and "deep burial without mounds" outside the pass, they completely shifted to imitating the massive burial mounds and magnificent brick underground palaces of Ming Dynasty imperial tombs, burying bodies intact and adhering to the ritual of "serving the dead as if they were alive." This is a visible history of ethnic integration and cultural change.
Solemn Atmosphere Along the Central Axis: The Tai Mausoleum architectural complex unfolds sequentially along a 2.5-kilometer-long Spirit Way central axis. Starting from the Five-Arch Stone Bridge, passing through the Stele Pavilion of Sacred Virtue and Divine Merit, the stone figures (lions, elephants, horses, civil and military officials, etc.), the Dragon and Phoenix Gate, then to the Hall of Eminent Favor, the Square City and Soul Tower, finally reaching the tall Treasure Peak (burial mound). The layout is rigorous and the momentum is magnificent, serving as a prime example of architectural art during the Qing Dynasty's heyday.
02 Practical Visitor's Guide
📍 Location: Xiling Town, Yixian County, Baoding City, Hebei Province.
🎫 Ticket Information: The entrance fee for Tai Mausoleum is usually around 45 RMB. It is recommended to purchase a combined ticket for the Western Qing Tombs (including Tai Mausoleum, Chang Mausoleum, Mu Mausoleum, Chong Mausoleum, and other main tombs) for better value, priced at approximately 108 RMB. Please refer to the official announcement on the day of your visit for specific ticket prices.
⏰ Opening Hours: Peak season (April-October) 8:00-17:30; Off-peak season (November-March of the following year) 8:30-17:00.
🚗 Transportation:
· Self-drive: Navigate to "Qing Xiling Tai Mausoleum." It's about a 2-2.5 hour drive from Beijing.
· Public transportation: Take a train or long-distance bus to Yixian County, then transfer to a scenic shuttle bus or taxi.
🗺 Recommended Itinerary: Upon entering the scenic area, it is recommended to walk and visit the architectural sequence: Great Red Gate → Stele Pavilion of Sacred Virtue and Divine Merit → Stone Figures Group → Dragon and Phoenix Gate → Three-Way Three-Arch Bridge → Gate of Eminent Favor → Hall of Eminent Favor → Square City and Soul Tower → Treasure Peak. The entire walking tour takes approximately 2-3 hours.
03 Visiting Experience and Reflections
Walking along the long Spirit Way of Tai Mausoleum, the surroundings are exceptionally quiet. Unlike many popular mausoleums, there are few tourists here, allowing one to calm down and observe and feel.
The stone figures, standing for nearly three hundred years, have had their patterns somewhat blurred by wind and rain, but their posture still faithfully guards this passage to the past. In front of the Hall of Eminent Favor, one can imagine the grand sacrificial ceremonies of yesteryear; looking up at the plaque of the Soul Tower, one ponders which version of the complex Emperor Yongzheng—the one in historical records or the one in fictional tales—is closer to the truth.
As one visitor remarked: "History has turned to dust, but the remaining architecture allows us to pay our respects. Standing here, one realizes more clearly that we have moved far from that era and are heading towards a more ideal future." Visiting Tai Mausoleum is not just an architectural appreciation; it's a journey of dialogue with history and purification of the soul.
04 Warm Tips
1. Learn in advance: Before your visit, a simple understanding of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign and the relationship between Yongzheng and Yinxiang will make your tour more profound and immersive.
2. Wear comfortable shoes: The mausoleum area is large and requires a lot of walking, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
3. Maintain solemnity: As a burial site, please maintain a respectful and solemn attitude during your visit.
4. Suitable for all seasons: Lush greenery in spring and summer, golden solemnity in autumn, and snow-covered pines in winter, each offering a unique ambiance.
As the setting sun gilds the glazed tiles of Tai Mausoleum, the long shadows of the Spirit Way gradually lengthen. Looking back upon departure, the palaces and pavilions lie quietly nestled amidst the mountains. All the emperors' merits and faults, the brotherhood, and the rise and fall of dynasties have transformed into a few lines in historical books and a sigh from visitors.
And this, perhaps, is the greatest meaning of visiting ancient sites—to complete one's own imagination and understanding of history in front of authentic relics.