Chuning Tomb, Imperial tomb in Qilin, Nanjing, China.
Chuning Tomb is an imperial burial site in the Qilin district of Nanjing, marked by two stone qilin statues standing on opposite sides of a street. These guardian figures stand near a location called Qilinpu and represent the main architectural features that visitors see at this ancient complex.
This burial site was created for a ruler who founded his dynasty and governed during a period spanning from 363 to 422. The tomb belongs to a group of burial complexes from the Southern Dynasties era, a period known for its distinctive stone guardian sculptures.
The burial site shows how imperial tombs were designed with stone guardian figures positioned along a street called Qilinpu. Visitors can observe the traditional placement of these statues, which once marked the approaches to the burial area.
The site is located in the Qilin district of Nanjing and protected as a Major Historical and Cultural Site at the national level. Visitors can walk through the area and view the stone statues from the street without needing any special equipment or preparation.
The two stone qilin statues are part of a series of guardian figures from the Southern Dynasties period scattered across burial sites throughout the region. These sculptures follow ancient architectural standards that precisely determined the placement and form of such guardian figures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
