Shou Qiu, Ancient imperial tomb and monument site in Qufu, China
Shou Qiu is an ancient tomb and memorial complex in Qufu, in the Shandong province of China, built around a pyramid-shaped burial mound. Two large stone steles mounted on turtle-shaped bases stand on either side of a small lake, and two massive unfinished stone tablets are also present on the grounds.
The complex was built in 1012 during the Song Dynasty, under Emperor Huizong, as a memorial to Emperor Shaohao. Construction was halted when Jurchen invaders reached the region, leaving parts of the site unfinished.
The site is regarded as the legendary birthplace of the Yellow Emperor and as the burial place of Emperor Shaohao, giving it deep roots in Chinese mythology. Visitors today can walk around the pyramid-shaped burial mound and observe the stone steles resting on turtle bases, a form traditionally associated with longevity and imperial power.
The site is open and easy to walk through, but it is large enough to take a good hour to see properly. Morning light falls well on the stone surfaces and the lake, making early visits rewarding.
The eastern stone tablet, known as Wan Ren Chou, was never carved and is considered one of the largest uncarved stone tablets in China. It was never moved to its intended position and still rests where workers left it centuries ago.
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