Valley of the Kings, Archaeological cemetery in Qonggyai County, China.
The Valley of the Kings in Qonggyai is an ancient burial ground where rulers were laid to rest in stone chambers carved directly into the rock cliffs. The chambers spread across the landscape and form a collection of burial structures built over many generations.
The burial ground developed during the Tubo period, an important era in Tibetan history when regional rulers chose to be entombed here. Later rulers added more chambers as different leaders controlled the region over time.
The tombs reflect how ancient Tibetan communities approached burial, mixing local building traditions with spiritual beliefs of their time. Walking through the valley, you notice how the carved chambers show the way people expressed respect for their deceased leaders.
The site is accessible but requires planning ahead, as you need to contact local authorities to arrange a visit. The best time to go is during warmer months when the paths and access to the chambers are easier to navigate.
Each chamber displays different carving techniques and designs that reveal when it was built and how important the buried person was. These details help visitors understand that not all rulers received equal treatment and some tombs were created with much more effort than others.
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