Dabaotai Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum, Ancient royal tomb museum in Huaxiang Subdistrict, China

The Dabaotai Mausoleum is an underground palace complex containing three chariots, eleven horses, and multiple burial chambers linked by corridors. The structure extends several levels beneath the ground and displays the architectural planning of the Western Han period.

The tomb belonged to Liu Jian, Prince of Guangyang, who ruled from 73 to 45 BC. The complex reflects how the western Han elite honored their rulers and prepared them for the afterlife.

The yellow cypress wood and burial items reveal advanced craftsmanship from this royal period. The way these objects are arranged shows what mattered most to the people who prepared this tomb.

The museum stands at Dabaotai village in Huaxiang Subdistrict, Fengtai District, about 15 km southwest of central Beijing, next to Beijing World Park. It reopened on 20 May 2025 after years of closure for renovation and expansion. The tomb chambers lie 4.7 m below ground, reached by stairs, so wear sturdy shoes.

The preservation technique used multiple layers of white clay and charcoal to protect the grave goods over more than two thousand years. This method proved so effective that many objects survived in remarkably good condition.