Xianling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty, Imperial mausoleum in Shisanling, China.

The Xianling Tomb is the mausoleum of Zhu Gaochi, the Hongxi Emperor, in Changping District, Beijing. It lies in a valley of the Tianshou Mountains and has a layout of courtyards, ceremonial halls and stone figures, with a paved spirit path leading to the burial mound.

The Xianling Tomb is the burial place of Zhu Gaochi, the Hongxi Emperor, eldest son of the Yongle Emperor and Empress Xu, daughter of Xu Da. He reigned only eight months before dying of a heart attack in the Qinian Hall in the fifth month of 1425, the first year of Hongxi. He was buried here in Changping District, north of Beijing.

The mausoleum displays traditional Chinese architectural design with stone sculptures that express imperial authority through gates, archways, and ceremonial spaces. This spatial arrangement reflects the ordered hierarchy that the Ming dynasty sought to represent in all important structures.

The site is reachable from Beijing and requires a journey into the mountains north of the city. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the grounds feature many steps, passages, and varying elevation levels throughout the complex.

A serpentine wall spanning about 3.6 kilometers surrounds the burial complex and connects the built structures with the natural mountain landscape. This design demonstrates how Ming architects sought to unite human construction with the surrounding terrain.