Shou Qiu, Ancient imperial tomb and monument site in Qufu, China
Shou Qiu is an ancient imperial tomb complex and monument in Qufu with two enormous stone steles supported by turtle bases positioned on either side of a small lake. The site also includes a pyramid-shaped burial mound and massive unfinished stone tablets that remain from earlier construction plans.
The memorial complex was built in 1012 under Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, but construction stopped when Jurchen invaders entered the region. This invasion interrupted the original building plans and left the stone tablets in the unfinished state still visible today.
The site connects to Chinese mythology as the legendary birthplace of the Yellow Emperor and is sacred as the burial place of Emperor Shaohao. These ancient associations shape how people understand and value the location today.
The site is relatively open and accessible, though the two massive stone tablets take time to explore fully and view from different angles. It helps to arrive early in the day to best enjoy the natural light on the stones and surrounding lake.
The eastern stone tablet, known as Wan Ren Chou, weighs about 250 tons and stands at about 17 meters tall. It ranks among China's largest uncarved stone tablets and demonstrates the ambitious construction goals of the Song Dynasty era.
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