Zhaojun Tomb

The legend goes that Zhaojun Tomb is the tomb of Wang Zhaojun, who is the queen of the Huns in history. With a long history of more than 2,000 years dated back to Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C- 25 A.D), the tomb has been renovated several times since the foundation of People’s Republic of China, and it was enlisted as the Key Culture Relics under the protection of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1964.

Zhaojun Tomb has become one of the biggest Han tombs in China. It is in the shape of an inverted cloak with 300 meters long from south to north and 162 meters wide from west to east, with an area of 13,000 square meters. The tomb is 33 meters high. Coming into the scenic spot, you see first a vast bronze statue of the Hun King Huhanye and Wang Zhaojun, which weighs 5 tons at 3.95 meters high above the ground. Walking northward, you will see a vast stele in memory of Zhaojun, and a poem is carved on the stele praising her contribution to the peace between the Han and the Manchu nationalities, which is written both in Han language and Mongolian language. There are steps leading to the tomb directly, that visitors can climb up to the top of the tomb. In the front of the tomb is a courtyard, where there are two Culture Relics Exhibit Halls. The white marble statue of Wang Zhaojun is enshrined in one hall with long hair and bright eyes, which is very graceful and vivid.

Seen from far away, Zhaojun Tomb stands erectly in the holy place like a picture, and it has become one of the eight famous attractions in Hohhot.

Background information:

Zhaojun Going beyond the Border
As one of the 4 beauties in ancient times, Wang Zhaojun was a concubine of Emperor Ming in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C- 25 A.D). The king of the Huns Huhanye came to Chang’an (the present Xian) to ask to be allowed to become an imperial son-in-law, that may bring peace between Han and Huns. Wang Zhaojun volunteered to join huns and became the Queen of Huns. In the next 60 years, peace was maintained between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu. Wang Zhaojun is remembered forever by later generations for her great courage and contribution.

Tips

Address: Dahei River bank, in the south of Hohhot, 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from the city center
Opening hours: from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Bus route: visitors can take a bus No. 1 from the bus station to Xiaoheihe stop, and then transfer No. 10 or 44 to get there directly