The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (明孝陵), located in Nanjing, China, is a majestic burial site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it serves as the final resting place of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, and his empress, Empress Ma.
The mausoleum is situated at the southern foot of Zijin Mountain, surrounded by picturesque landscapes and serene forests. Its construction began in 1381 and took over 17 years to complete. The complex covers an area of approximately 180,000 square meters and is renowned for its architectural grandeur and cultural significance.
The entrance to the mausoleum is marked by the magnificent Great Golden Gate, which leads to the Sacred Way, a pathway flanked by statues of mythical creatures, officials, and animals. Continuing along the path, visitors reach the impressive Hall of Eminent Favor, the main hall of the mausoleum complex. It houses statues and elaborate stone carvings depicting the emperor and empress.
The highlight of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is the underground burial chamber, where the emperor and empress are entombed. Although the burial chamber is not open to the public, the complex offers visitors an opportunity to explore the surrounding buildings, pavilions, and serene gardens.
As one of the most well-preserved imperial mausoleums in China, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is not only a testament to the grandeur of the Ming Dynasty but also a significant cultural and historical landmark. It attracts countless visitors each year, offering a glimpse into China’s rich past and the architectural brilliance of its ancient dynasties.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
- Map and Recommended Route for Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
- Vlog about Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
- A Brief History of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
- Facts about Zhu Yuanzhang
- Attractions Near Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
Basic Information
| Website | http://www.zschina.org.cn/mxljq/ |
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 – 3 hours |
| Ticket Price | 70 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 6.30 – 18.00 (1st February – 30th November) 7.00 – 17.30 (1st December – 31st January) The Mausoleum is closed on Mondays Before 6:30 AM and after 6:30 PM, the scenic area is free to enter. However, Changsheng Deer Garden opens at 8:30 AM. |
| Telephone Number | 0086-025-84433582 |
Location and Transportation
The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is situated at the southern foot of Zijin Mountain, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, which adds to its serene and picturesque surroundings. It is easily accessible by various modes of transportation.
Bus: Take bus 20 or 315, get off at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Stop (明孝陵) and walk about 50 meters to the south to get there.
Metro: The nearest metro station to Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is Muxu Garden (苜蓿园) on line 2. After getting out of the station from Exit 2, walk about 500 meters to the north to get there.
Entrances: Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum has 7 entrances:
- Gate 1, near Qian Lake and Zhongshan Botanical Garden. Bus routes 20 and 315 reach this gate, but they may not be very convenient.
- Gate 3, close to Yanque Lake, Water Fir Forest, and Changsheng Deer Garden. Conveniently located near Metro Line 2 Muxu Station.
- Gate 5, near Wutong Avenue and Meiling Palace. Upon entering, you’ll find Sifangcheng and Shixiang Road. Not far from Metro Line 2 Muxu Station and Xiamafang Station.
- Gate 6, convenient for going to the Underwater World.
- Gate 7, convenient for going to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Music Stand. Locals going to Zixia Lake also enter through Gate 7.
Highlights of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
Great Golden Gate
The Grand Golden Gate (大金门) of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is 26.66 meters long from east to west and 8.09 meters wide from north to south. The central gate is larger, standing 5.24 meters tall and 4.15 meters wide. The side gates are smaller, each 4.45 meters tall and 3.54 meters wide. The lower part of the gates is built on a stone base known as a Xumi platform, which is 1.58 meters high. The waist section features shallow carvings of bowl flowers, while the upper part is made of brickwork. From the Xumi platform to the eaves under the stone, the height is 4.91 meters. Originally, the Grand Golden Gate was connected by a royal wall on both its east and west sides. The east wall connected to Linggu Temple, while the west wall joined the Nanjing City Wall. Traces of these connections can still be seen today. The Grand Golden Gate is the first major entrance to the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, facing south, and features three arched gateways. The gate once had a bright red lacquered wooden door, and the gatehouse roof was covered with yellow glazed tiles typical of the Ming Dynasty. However, the roof and the door no longer exist today.
Square City and the Monument
The Square City, commonly known as the “Monument to Divine Achievement and Sacred Virtue,” was built in the 11th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming Dynasty (1413). During the Taiping Rebellion, the multi-eaved pavilion roof and wooden structure were destroyed in the flames of war. Inside the Square City stands the “Monument to Divine Achievement and Sacred Virtue,” erected by Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) in honor of his father, Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang). The inscription, written by Emperor Yongle himself, chronicles the life and deeds of Zhu Yuanzhang in 2,746 characters, making it the largest ancient stele in the Nanjing area. The monument details the “achievements” and “virtue” of Zhu Yuanzhang, hence its name, “Monument to Divine Achievement and Sacred Virtue.” The monument stands 8.87 meters tall in total, with the stele itself (including the inscription) measuring 6.7 meters in height, and the turtle base, or gui die, being 2.08 meters high.
Sacred Way
The Sacred Way of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum begins at the Square City. From there, it stretches westward, crossing the Outer Jinshui Bridge (now Hong Bridge). The Stone Beast Path, which is 650 meters long, is lined with 12 pairs of stone animals, each pair consisting of four statues – two standing and two lying down. These magnificent and vividly carved creatures are arranged in the following order: lions, xie zhi (mythical beasts), camels, elephants, qilin (a mythical hooved chimerical creature), and horses.
At the end of the Stone Beast Path stands a pair of 6.52-meter tall white stone pillars adorned with cloud dragon patterns, known as Wang Zhu (望柱). These pillars are typically placed at the very front of the mausoleum’s Sacred Way, but in a unique twist, the Wang Zhu at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum are positioned in the middle of the Sacred Way, a distinct and creative arrangement by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The Sacred Way here changes direction, shifting from an east-west orientation to a north-south one.
Hall of Sacrifice
The Hall of Sacrifice (享殿) is located behind the Emperor’s Stele Pavilion and in front of the Square City. Originally, it was a grand structure with nine bays and a double-eaved roof, built on a three-tier stone Xumi platform. It also had numerous side halls, making it one of the main buildings of the Xiaoling Mausoleum. Construction of the hall was completed in the 16th year of the Hongwu reign (1383), with the gold-plated inscription “Xiaoling Hall” on the roof. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it housed the ancestral tablets of Emperor Yuanzhang and Empress Ma. During the Taiping Rebellion, the area became a battlefield between the Taiping army and the Qing forces, and the Hall of Sacrifice was destroyed in the flames of war. The original Hall no longer exists, but the foundations of 64 stone columns remain, indicating that the Hall was larger than the Hall of Sacrifice at Changling, the tomb of Ming Emperor Chengzu in Beijing. The current Hall of Sacrifice at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1873), though it is smaller than the original, and now houses a portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang.
Meihua (Plum Blossom) Mountain
During the Republic of China period, the afforestation and landscaping of Zhongshan Mountain flourished. In the 18th year of the Republic (1929), the Ministry of Horticulture was established. By the 21st year (1932), the mausoleum’s landscape had developed into a four-season flower-viewing area, with Meihua Mountain becoming a popular spot for plum blossom viewing in spring. In the 34th year (1945), the Nationalist government moved its capital to Nanjing and strengthened the management of Zhongshan’s trees, adding various types of flowers and plants. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, plum tree planting became more widespread in Nanjing, and Zhongshan continued afforestation each year. In 1957, a new four-season scenic area was created, expanding the original spring plum-viewing area at the Wu Wang Tomb and increasing the number of plum trees.
Map and Recommended Route for Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
If you plan to visit Meiling Palace:
The route is to enter through Gate 3 and exit through Gate 5, heading directly to Meiling Palace.
Muxuyuan Subway Station ➡️ (Enter through Gate 3) Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum ➡️ Changsheng Deer Garden ➡️ Yanque Lake ➡️ Meihua Art Center ➡️ Wengzhong Road ➡️ Lingxing Gate ➡️ Jinshui Bridge / Wenwu Fang Gate ➡️ Ming Hall ➡️ Yan Zhenqing Stele Forest ➡️ Red Building Literary Garden ➡️ Sun Quan Memorial Hall ➡️ Stone Animal Sacred Path ➡️ Exit at Gate 5, Meiling Palace is directly across.
If you only plan to visit Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum:
The typical path is to visit the Sacred Path first – then proceed to the Fang Gate – and finally, reach the Ming Hall.
Muxuyuan Subway Station ➡️ Most Beautiful Wutong Avenue ➡️ Squre City (Enter through Gate 5) ➡️ Stone Animal Sacred Path ➡️ Wengzhong Road ➡️ Lingxing Gate ➡️ Jinshui Bridge / Wenwu Fang Gate ➡️ Ming Hall ➡️ Yan Zhenqing Stele Forest ➡️ Red Building Literary Garden ➡️ Sun Quan Memorial Hall ➡️ Meihua Art Center ➡️ Yanque Lake ➡️ Changsheng Deer Garden ➡️ Exit at Gate 3.
Vlog about Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
A Brief History of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, located in Nanjing, was constructed starting in the 14th year of the Hongwu Emperor’s reign (1381) and completed in the 11th year of the Yongle Emperor’s reign (1413), taking a span of 32 years to finish. During the entire Ming Dynasty, the mausoleum was guarded by a specialized group known as the “Shen Gong Jian” inside the site and “Xiaoling Wei” on the surrounding perimeter. The Xiaoling Wei had more than 5,700 guards, and the area was considered a restricted zone for over 200 years of Ming rule.
In the Qing Dynasty, both Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong visited the mausoleum during their southern tours, appointing two officials to guard the tomb and ensuring the maintenance of the surrounding area. The Qing government even allocated lands for the maintenance of incense offerings. In 1751, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the imperial guards for the mausoleum were reduced to a smaller number. In 1853, during the Taiping Rebellion, the area near Chaoyang Gate became a major battleground between the Qing forces and the Taiping army. The mausoleum was severely damaged by artillery fire, and most of the above-ground structures were destroyed. What remains today are mainly buildings from the late Qing Dynasty.
By the late Qing period, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum gradually opened as a tourist attraction. In 1909, a warning stone tablet was erected to prevent foreign visitors from defacing the site. In 2004, Nanjing City officially restructured the Zhongshan Scenic Area, incorporating the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum into the larger tourist zone. The renovated area now includes the mausoleum, its sacred path, and surrounding attractions like Meihua Valley and Zixia Lake, as well as free-access sites such as Pipa Lake and the Ming Xiaoling Museum.
I highly recommended the following two routes: Route 1: – If you plan to visit both the Meiling Palace (美龄宫) and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (明孝陵) efficiently. – Enter through gate 3 and exit through gate 5 to reach Meiling Palace directly. – Detailed route: – Xuanwu Lake Metro Station ➡️ (enter gate 3) Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum ➡️ Changsheng Deer Park ➡️ Yanque Lake ➡️ Plum Blossom Art Center ➡️ Weng Zhong Road ➡️ Lingxing Gate ➡️ Jinshui Bridge/Wenwu Fangmen… Read more »