Tombs are crucial components of ancient Chinese architecture. The ancient Chinese believed that souls lived on after death and they attached much importance to burials. People of all social classes had their tombs meticulously built. Throughout history, Chinese tombs have seen great developments. Kings and queens had huge clusters of tombs constructed on a scale rarely seen elsewhere. Over the centuries, the craft of tomb construction gradually merged with arts like painting, calligraphy and sculpture. It eventually became its own art form.

Chinese tombs are some of the most magnificent and colossal structures in ancient architecture. They were generally built in accordance with the surrounding terrain, either on the side of mountains or on the plains. The layouts of Chinese cemeteries typically include city walls with gates on four sides and turrets on four corners. In front of the tombs are paved paths with pines and cypresses. The cemeteries are solemn and peaceful.

Qinshihuang Mausoleum

Qinshihuang Mausoleum is the most famous tomb in China. It's situated in the northern region of Li Mountain in Xi'an of Shanxi Province. Qinshihuang was built over two thousand years ago and is guarded by the Qin terracotta warriors and their horses. The exquisite sculptures are considered masterpieces of great historical significance and are regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world. The site was added to the World Heritage List in 1987.

Besides the Qinshihuang Mausoleum, there are 11 mausoleums of kings from the Xi Han dynasty and 18 from the Tang dynasty. The biggest among these is Emperor Han Wu Di Liu Che's mausoleum. It also has the most valuable treasure. The Zhao mausoleum was built for Emperor Tai Zong of the Tang Dynasty. It is a massive cemetery with seventeen feudal officials and members of the royal family buried close to the emperor's tomb. Many parts of the Zhao Mausoleum hold precious cultural relics, including the famous Tang sculpture Painting of Six Fine Horses.

Ming-Qing Royal Mausoleum

Most of the mausoleums of Ming Emperors are located in Changping of present-day Beijing. The Ming Tombs were built outside Beijing between the 15th and 17th centuries and contain the remains of 13 Ming Emperors. They occupy an area of 40 square kilometers. The Ming Tombs are well preserved and they make up the most concentrated cemetery architectural complex in China. The grandest tombs include the Chang Tomb for Ming Cheng Zu, Zhu Di and Ding Tombs for Ming Shen Zong and Zhu Yijun. Excavations show that the stone arcs of the Ding Tomb's underground palace are of solid structures. The drainage system is still in good condition and there is little water around so none of the stone arcs are submerged. The condition of the site is a testament to the superb underground-construction techniques of the ancient Chinese.

The East Qing Tomb is the most magnificent and complete royal cemetery in China and occupies 78 kilometers. Five Qing emperors, fourteen queens and more than 100 concubines of the emperors are buried there. The East Qing Tomb features meticulous architecture.