A Real-Life "Grave Robbers' Chronicles": Explore an Actual Tomb in Xuzhou!

Falling in love with Xuzhou goes beyond its delicious Luomo flatbread; it's about the city's diverse Han Dynasty tombs. From Guishan Han Tomb to the Han Culture Scenic Area, the Han tomb culture has captivated me. On this trip to Xuzhou, I visited a lesser-known Han tomb—the Beidongshan Western Han Chu King Mausoleum. ⭐️Beidongshan Han Tomb is located north of Xuzhou, about 10 km from the city center, on the north bank of the Grand Canal, nestled in Dongshan Village, Maoshan Town. The entire scenic area is within the village, and cars can park directly in the courtyard. ⭐️Highlights of Beidongshan Western Han Chu King Mausoleum: ✅No Han Tomb Escapes Tomb Raiders: Excavated in 1986, this tomb had been looted multiple times, yet it still yielded many precious artifacts, most notably 56 scale-shaped jade burial suit pieces, confirming the tomb occupant's identity as a Chu King. ✅The Tomb Occupant Remains Uncertain: The tomb dates back to roughly the same period as the Shishan Chu King Mausoleum, slightly earlier than the Guishan Han Tomb. It's speculated to belong to Liu Li, the fourth Chu King of the Western Han Dynasty. Some experts believe it could belong to one of the five Chu Kings, possibly Liu Jiao, Liu Yingke, Liu Wu, Liu Li, or Liu Dao. ✅An Extravagant Mausoleum with the Most Chambers: If you're a fan of "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" and have visited several tomb museums, you'll appreciate the extravagance of Beidongshan Han Tomb. The main structure has 8 chambers, and the ancillary structures have 11 rooms and 18 chambers, making it the Han tomb with the most chambers. It's also the only tomb discovered in China that replicates a royal palace above ground. ✅Duplex Structures in the Han Dynasty? The entire mausoleum recreates the scenes of the royal palace, complete with a kitchen, toilet, and well. The tomb chambers are double-layered, a unique feature among excavated tombs. ✅Exquisite Western Han Pottery Figurines: 224 painted pottery figurines were unearthed here, most of which are well-preserved. They represent the best-preserved collection of painted pottery figurines from the Han Dynasty found in China. As early as the Han Dynasty, ancient artisans skillfully integrated painting and sculpture. Each figurine has a unique expression and posture, providing valuable insights into the clothing of Western Han princes, as well as the artistic styles and aesthetics of the time. 🌈Tips： ✔️Driving is recommended as the tomb is relatively remote, located within a village. 🗒️Beidongshan Western Han Chu King Mausoleum 📍Dongshan Village, Maocun Town, Tongshan District, Xuzhou City 🕒Wednesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays 💰Free 🌸Recommended visiting time: 1 hour