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Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum 明孝陵
🚶🏻♀️➡️Self-Guided Walk Overview
A beautiful & historic walk through one of China’s grandest imperial mausoleums, filled with symbolic gates, bridges, ancient platforms & restored structures. Each stop reveals a different layer of Ming ritual culture & architectural innovation.
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Civil & Military Fangmen 文武方门
The main gate of the mausoleum. The original 5-passage structure is long gone, but the current single-opening Qing-era gate still marks the formal entrance into the ceremonial axis. A stone plaque inscribed “明孝陵,” carved with cloud-dragon motifs, sits above the doorway.
🐢 Imperial Stele Pavilion 御碑亭
Just north of the Fangmen stands a grand imperial stele, about 4 metres tall & 1.5 metres wide, mounted on a stone tortoise (bixi). This pavilion marks the official start of the inner ceremonial route.
🔥 Divine Silk Furnace 神帛炉
After passing the Stele Hall, on both sides of the imperial road are 2 small glazed-tile censers. These were used to burn “divine silk” — inscribed strips of silk used in rituals to call back the spirit of the deceased.
Sacrificial Hall (Xiaoling Hall) 享殿
The original hall was destroyed in 1853. The building seen today is a later replica, now functioning as a small souvenir shop. It marks the location of the mausoleum’s main offering hall.
Site of the Front Gate of the Sacrificial Hall 享殿前门基址
Although the hall no longer survives, its impressive platform, front & back stairways & cloud-dragon relief stones remain.
The massive foundation — about 60 m by 27 m — shows how monumental the original Ming building once was.
Inner Red Gate 内红门
About 20 metres north of the Sacrificial Hall. In the Ming era, this gate had 3 doorways & small tiled rooms inside where eunuchs lived & worked. The gate base is large, with walls extending from both sides to divide the 2nd & 3rd courtyard areas.
Ascension Bridge 升仙桥
Immediately after the Inner Red Gate stands this grand stone bridge. Its name symbolises crossing into the “realm of immortals.”
Damaged railings & dragon-head carvings were restored in 2005 using traditional stone-carving techniques.
Square Wall & Ming Tower 方城明楼
The final & most impressive structure before the emperor’s burial mound.
The Square Wall is a massive stone fort-like building with a deep arched tunnel (54 steps) leading through it.
Above sits the Ming Tower, once topped with yellow-glazed tiles & decorated with fine brick carvings.
This Ming-era innovation creates a solemn, majestic atmosphere, emphasising the emperor’s supreme status.
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⭐ Overall
A wonderfully preserved historical route rich in symbolism & architectural detail. The combination of gates, platforms, bridges & the towering Square Wall makes the walk feel both serene & monumental. A must-visit for anyone interested in imperial history or Ming architecture ✨
