Tomb of Liu Sheng, Royal archaeological site in Mancheng District, China

The Tomb of Liu Sheng is an archaeological site featuring two main burial chambers carved into Ling-shan mountain, extending 52 meters into the rock. The complex includes multiple functional compartments with intricate architectural elements that showcase the construction techniques of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Sheng was the ninth son of Emperor Jing who ruled the Chung-shan principality from 154 to 113 BC during the Western Han period. His tomb was constructed to reflect his princely status and wealth, as evidenced by its elaborate design and precious contents.

The tombs held 1,000 objects for Liu Sheng and 1,200 for Dou Wan, including bronze vessels, weapons, lamps and incense burners. The boshan-lu censers, shaped as mountain peaks with trees and animals and pierced by cave-like holes for incense smoke, were later used in Daoist meditation. The gilded bronze Changxin Palace Lamp, a kneeling servant girl holding a lantern, is the best-known piece.

The site is located within mountains and maintains steady temperature and humidity levels that have protected the artifacts from decay. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and stairs as they enter the mountain chambers during exploration.

The jade burial suits were long read as a metaphor: Han texts spoke of "jade" garments, but later Chinese and European scholars took the word as a colour, "green". The 2,160-plate suit of Dou Wan, 142 cm long and wired with gold, proved the garments were real jade, changing the study of Han burial ritual.