Qing East Tomb

Location: in the city of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province

Located 11 kilometres northeast of Shenyang, the East Tomb, also known as the Fu Ling, is the burial place of Nurachi and his wife, Yehenalashi. The tomb is set among connifers in Dongling Park. It is an impressive structure with strong walls and a three-storey tower. Nurachi, father of Huangtaiji who was later buried in the North Tomb, was the founder of the Dajin Dynasty, which later became the Qing Dynasty. He successfully united the different minority tribes in Northeast China and established a powerful empire. The tomb was completed in 1651, and reconstructed in the Kangxi and Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty.

The tomb perches solemnly on the Tianzhu hill overlooking the Hun River. It has a very similar layout to the North Tomb. The most distinctive feature lies in the 108 stone steps which lead to the tomb on the hilltop. The 108 stone steps symbolize the 36 immortals in the heaven and the 72 evil spirits in the hell, and indicate power and the emperor's rule over the whole country and even the universe.