Located on the summit of Qiaoshan Mountain in Huangling County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province, the Huangdi Mausoleum Scenic Area is the mausoleum of Xuanyuan Huangdi (Yellow Emperor), the ancestor of the Chinese nation. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a key national cultural relic protection unit, and a national scenic spot, known as the "First Mausoleum Under Heaven." The scenic area consists of two parts: the Huangdi Mausoleum and Xuanyuan Temple, with a total area of approximately 4 square kilometers (the Huangdi Mausoleum covers 3 square kilometers, and Xuanyuan Temple covers 1 square kilometer). The core features of the scenic area are its profound historical and cultural heritage and unique cultural landscapes. The mausoleum is 3.6 meters high and 48 meters in circumference. Qiaoshan Mountain is thick with lush forests, and there are more than 80,000 ancient cypresses over a thousand years old, making it the best-preserved ancient cypress cluster in China.
History and Culture
The history of the Huangdi Mausoleum can be traced back to ancient times. According to the *Records of the Grand Historian*, Huangdi was buried in Qiaoshan after his death. Xuanyuan Temple began to be built on Qiaoshan during the Western Han Dynasty. In the 5th year of the Dali reign (770 AD) of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty, a temple was officially established for worshiping the mausoleum. In the 5th year of the Kaibao reign (972 AD) of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Xuanyuan Temple was relocated to its current site, and successive emperors of later dynasties carried out repairs and sacrificial activities. A fixed sacrificial system was formed during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. In the 8th year of the Shunzhi reign (1651 AD) of Emperor Shizu of the Qing Dynasty, a grand public sacrifice was held, laying the foundation for modern sacrificial ceremonies at the Huangdi Mausoleum.
Huangdi is regarded as the primordial ancestor of the Chinese nation. Legend has it that he invented writing, music, medicine, and vehicles, laying the foundation for Chinese civilization. As a place where emperors and the public have worshiped Huangdi throughout the ages, the Huangdi Mausoleum carries the collective memory and cultural identity of the Chinese nation. In 1961, it was listed as one of the first batch of national key cultural relic protection units by the State Council, and in 2006, the Qingming Public Sacrifice Ceremony for Xuanyuan Huangdi was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
Main Attractions
Xuanyuan Temple
Xuanyuan Temple is the main venue for worshiping Huangdi, covering an area of about 10,000 square meters. It consists of architectural structures such as the temple gate, Chengxin Pavilion, Stele Pavilion, and Main Hall. The earliest existing stele in the temple is the *Stele of the New Xuanyuan Temple Built in the Song Dynasty*, erected in the 6th year of the Jiayou reign (1061 AD) of the Northern Song Dynasty. The Main Hall enshrines a 3.9-meter-high colored statue of Huangdi, with 47 steles of sacrificial inscriptions by emperors of various dynasties displayed on both sides. The "Huangdi Hand-Planted Cypress" in the temple is over 5,000 years old, more than 20 meters tall, and 7.6 meters in circumference, making it the oldest cypress tree in China.
Huangdi Mausoleum
Located on the summit of Qiaoshan Mountain, the Huangdi Mausoleum is a circular tomb built with blue bricks, 3.6 meters high and 48 meters in circumference. In front of the mausoleum stands a stele inscribed with "Huangdi Mausoleum," written by Guo Moruo in 1958. Behind the tomb is the "Hanwu Immortal Platform," over 20 meters high, said to have been built by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (Liu Che) for worshiping Huangdi during his northern tour, with the existing structure being a relic rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The mausoleum area is shaded by ancient cypresses, with more than 30,000 ancient cypresses over a thousand years old, including the "Armored Cypress" with marks on its trunk, rumored to be from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty hanging his armor on it.
Huangdi Mausoleum Exhibition Hall
The exhibition hall focuses on "Huangdi Culture," with an exhibition area of about 3,000 square meters. It displays the life stories, inventions, and historical changes of the Huangdi Mausoleum through cultural relics, models, and multimedia. The hall houses more than 2,000 cultural relics from the Neolithic Age to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the most precious being ritual vessels such as jade zhang (a type of jade tablet) and jade bi (a type of jade disc) unearthed from the Longshan Culture period in Huangling County.
Food
Huangling Oil Cake
A traditional snack from Huangling County, made from soft yellow rice and red dates through soaking, grinding, and deep-frying. It has a crispy outer layer and a soft, sweet inner filling, costing about 5 RMB per piece. It is a special food for sacrificial activities and festivals, available in restaurants around the scenic area and on county streets.
Buckwheat Heme
A characteristic noodle dish in northern Shaanxi, made by pressing buckwheat flour and served with lamb minced meat, sour soup, or tomato sauce. The noodles are chewy and low in fat, with an average cost of about 15 RMB per person. The "Old Northern Shaanxi Heme Restaurant" near the scenic area is recommended, located on the east section of Xuanyuan Avenue in Huangling County.
Huangling Steamed Dishes
Traditional banquet dishes including steamed crispy meat, steamed pork ribs, and steamed meatballs, stewed in old soup and then steamed, with a tender and fragrant taste. They are usually sold as set meals, with a four-dish-and-one-soup set costing about 80 RMB, suitable for family dinners. "Qiaoshan Restaurant" in the county is a time-honored local brand.
Northern Shaanxi Millet Porridge
Boiled with high-quality millet from northern Shaanxi, it is thick, sweet, and rich in vitamins and minerals. It is served in farmhouses around the scenic area, costing 5 RMB per bowl, and is a healthy choice for breakfast or supper.
Tickets
Peak season (March 1 – November 30): 90 RMB/person;
Off-season (December 1 – February 28): 50 RMB/person.
Free admission for seniors aged 65+, people with disabilities, and active-duty military personnel (with valid ID); free for children under 1.2 meters; 50% discount for full-time undergraduate students and below (with student ID) (not applicable to graduate students and above).
Opening Hours
Peak season (March 1 – November 30): 7:30 – 18:00 (last entry at 17:00);
Off-season (December 1 – February 28): 8:00 – 17:30 (last entry at 16:30).
Large-scale public sacrifice activities are held during the Qingming Festival and Chongyang Festival, and opening hours may be adjusted. Please check the scenic area announcements in advance.
Tour Routes
Recommended route: Scenic area entrance → Xuanyuan Temple (1.5 hours of sightseeing, visiting Huangdi's hand-planted cypress, stele pavilions, and main hall) → Take a sightseeing bus (10 RMB/person) → Huangdi Mausoleum (1 hour of sightseeing, climbing the Hanwu Immortal Platform and paying respects to the mausoleum) → Huangdi Mausoleum Exhibition Hall (1 hour of sightseeing) → Exit. The entire journey takes about 3.5 hours, with an additional 40 minutes if walking to and from the mausoleum and Xuanyuan Temple.
Transportation
- High-speed rail: Take the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed rail to Huangling South Station, then transfer to a bus or taxi to the scenic area. The journey takes about 20 minutes, and the bus fare is 3 RMB.
- Long-distance bus: Direct buses from Xi'an Chengdong Bus Station and Yan'an South Bus Station to Huangling County. After arrival, take county bus route 1 to the "Huangdi Mausoleum" stop. The whole journey takes about 2 hours, with fares of 90 RMB (from Xi'an) and 35 RMB (from Yan'an) respectively.
- Self-driving: From Xi'an, take the Baomao Expressway (G65) northbound, exit at "Huangling," and follow Xuanyuan Avenue to the scenic area. The journey takes about 2.5 hours, and parking costs 10 RMB per day; from Yan'an, take the Baomao Expressway southbound, with a journey time of about 1.5 hours.
Must-See Attractions
- Xuanyuan Temple: Experience thousands of years of sacrificial culture and admire Huangdi's 5,000-year-old hand-planted cypress and sacrificial inscriptions from various dynasties.
- Huangdi Mausoleum: Pay homage to the mausoleum of the ancestor of the Chinese nation and climb the Hanwu Immortal Platform for a panoramic view of Qiaoshan Mountain.
- Huangdi Mausoleum Exhibition Hall: Learn about Huangdi culture and the historical changes of the mausoleum through cultural relics and multimedia.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to visit in spring (April) or autumn (October) when the climate is pleasant, and you can participate in the Qingming public sacrifice or Chongyang folk sacrifice activities.
- Hire a professional guide (about 100 RMB/group) or rent an electronic guide (30 RMB/unit) to deeply understand Huangdi culture and sacrificial rituals.
- Walking is required to reach the mausoleum area, so wear comfortable sports shoes; open flames are prohibited in the scenic area, so do not carry incense or candles for sacrifice.
- For local cuisine, go to Zhongxin Street or Liyuan New District in Huangling County, and try oil cakes and buckwheat heme.
Notes
- As a cultural sacred site, the scenic area requires solemnity; no loud noise or littering is allowed.
- During sacrificial activities, there is a large flow of people. Book tickets in advance and follow staff guidance.
- There are many ancient cypresses in the Qiaoshan scenic area; smoking, climbing trees, or damaging vegetation is strictly prohibited.
- In winter, some roads in the scenic area may be icy, so pay attention to anti-slip measures; in summer, take sun protection and anti-heatstroke measures.
- Beware of unlicensed tourism services around the scenic area; for souvenirs, it is recommended to choose official stores.