Shenyang · Visitor Guide
Qing Zhao Tombs / Beiling Park (清昭陵（北陵）, Qīng Zhāolíng (Běilíng))
Qing Zhao Tombs is the largest of Shenyang's two Qing imperial mausoleums and the burial place of Hong Taiji, the founding emperor who renamed the Later Jin dynasty Qing. In 2004 UNESCO inscribed it as part of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties serial site. The grounds double as Beiling Park, a public green space used daily by Shenyang residents doing tai chi and ballroom dance.
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Quick Answer
Is Qing Zhao Tombs / Beiling Park worth visiting?
A 3.3 million sq m imperial mausoleum park in northern Shenyang holding the tomb of Hong Taiji (r. 1626–1643), doable in 2–3 hours including a slow loop of the lake.
Quick facts
| Ticket | CNY 40 (low season, Nov 1–Mar 31) / CNY 50 (high season, Apr 1–Oct 31) for the tomb area; park outer areas free; combined ticket CNY 80 in peak summer (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Park 06:00–21:00 daily; tomb area (Zhao Ling inner compound) 08:00–17:00 in winter, 08:00–18:00 in summer; last entry 30 min before close |
| Recommended duration | 2–3 hours for the tomb area; add 1–2 hours if you walk the lake and forest paths |
| Best time to visit | Late September for autumn foliage (ginkgo + maple), or a clear winter morning after fresh snow — the colored eaves against white ground beat any summer photo. Avoid May 1, October 1 national holidays entirely. |
| How to get there | Metro Line 2 to Beiling Gongyuan (北陵公园) Station, Exit B; about 10 minutes on foot from the south gate. From Shenyang Railway Station take Line 1 to Zhongjie, transfer Line 2 — roughly 25 minutes total. Taxi/DiDi from downtown costs CNY 20–30 (verify). |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| UNESCO Inscribed | 2004, as part of Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (serial site, criterion i, ii, iii, iv) |
| Built | 1643–1651; expanded through the Qianlong era (1736–1795) |
| Area | 3.3 million square meters (about 330 hectares / 815 acres) |
| Buried Here | Hong Taiji (Huang Taiji) and Empress Xiaoduanwen |
| Built By | Commissioned by Hong Taiji's son, the Shunzhi Emperor, completed under regent Dorgon |
| High Season Ticket | CNY 50 for tomb area (as of 2026) |
What to expect
Beiling Park is two experiences in one: the outer park (free, lively, full of locals) and the inner Zhao Ling tomb compound (ticketed, quiet, walled). Walk in through the south gate and you'll first hit the lake with paddle boats in summer, then the forested avenues leading north. The actual mausoleum sits at the back on a raised platform approached through three gates and a long spirit way lined with stone animals and pillars — the layout is a downsized preview of the Ming Tombs or the Eastern Qing Tombs near Beijing, and it makes a good comparison stop if you're doing the full Manchu-imperial circuit.
Hong Taiji is the figure who turned a Jurchen tribal khanate into the Qing dynasty and completed the conquest of Korea, but the tomb itself was built by his son and finished under Dorgon in 1651. The square city-wall layout reflects Manchu banner organization rather than the round Han Chinese cosmology used at the Ming Tombs — you can see this in the side walls and the four corner towers. The wooden Long'en Hall was rebuilt in 1742 on Qianlong's orders after a fire; the stone archways ("Long'en archway," a glazed-ware beauty with dragons and clouds) are the highlight piece and the most-photographed object on site.
Reality check: the tomb mound is closed to the public and viewed only from outside the surrounding wall, which disappoints visitors expecting a Forbidden-City-scale interior. The signage is mostly Chinese with only fragments of English — download an offline guide or hire a guide at the gate (around CNY 100–150). Photography is allowed everywhere except inside Long'en Hall, and winters are brutally cold with wind straight off the Mongolian plain, so gloves and a face covering are not optional in January.
How to get there
Take Shenyang Metro Line 2 to Beiling Gongyuan Station (北陵公园站), Exit B, then walk north about 800 m to the south gate — the obvious route, and the only one that puts you at the main entrance. From Shenyang North Railway Station, Line 2 connects directly in about 15 minutes; from Shenyang Station (the older south railway station), take Line 1 to Zhongjie, change to Line 2, total around 30 minutes. Buses 136, 205, 210, 213, 217, 220, 232, 242, 245, 290 all stop at Beiling Gongyuan or Beiling Daqiao (North Tomb Bridge); bus 213 from the Imperial Palace (Mukden Palace) is the slow scenic option if you have time. Taxi/DiDi from downtown Huanggu or Heping districts costs CNY 20–35 depending on traffic and origin (verify); from Taoxian International Airport budget CNY 100–130 for the 35-km ride, about 45 minutes off-peak. The south gate has the biggest parking area and the easiest metered taxi rank.
Best photo spots
- The glazed Long'en Gate archway (龙恩门牌楼) — colorful dragon-and-cloud relief, the single most-photographed object on site; shoot straight-on in early morning when east light rakes the glazed tiles.
- The Spirit Way (神道) between the main gate and Long'en Hall, framed by paired stone camels, lions, and qilin — best with low autumn sun behind you to flatten the crowds.
- East side of the lake looking back at the willow-lined causeway, especially in May when the peonies bloom along the north bank.
- From the east wall looking west at the tomb mound (宝顶) after snow — the bare poplar trees and white ground make the colored roof tiles pop.
Tips
- Buy the combined ticket (CNY 80 in summer) only if you also want the small imperial museum; otherwise the CNY 40/50 base ticket covers everything most visitors care about.
- Enter from the south gate, not the east gate — the east gate dumps you at the lake and you have to walk all the way around to reach the tomb compound.
- Mornings before 09:00 are the calmest; after 10:00 the dance and music groups take over the plazas and the parking lot fills with tour buses.
- Bring cash — the ticket window still glitches on foreign Visa/Mastercard in 2026, though Alipay and WeChat Pay work without issue.
- Pair this with the Mukden Palace (Shenyang Imperial Palace) on the same day — they're 6 km apart, both reachable on Metro Line 2 with one transfer, and together tell the Manchu dynasty origin story better than either does alone.
Scams to avoid
- Unofficial "guides" near the south gate metro exit offering English tours — most are unlicensed and will lead you to tea shops or jade stalls for commission; hire through your hotel concierge instead.
- Photo-booth operators near the Spirit Way offering "costume photo" packages at CNY 50–100 — the costumes are cheap rental Qing-imperial cosplay, not authentic, and the prints are overpriced.
- Park perimeter touts selling "antique" coins and Manchu charms — these are machine-stamped brass souvenirs from wholesale markets, not Qing-era artifacts; pay more than CNY 20 and you've been had.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance ticket to Qing Zhao Tombs in 2026?
CNY 40 in low season (Nov 1–Mar 31) and CNY 50 in high season (Apr 1–Oct 31) for the inner tomb compound; the surrounding Beiling Park is free. A combined ticket including the on-site imperial museum runs CNY 80 in peak summer months.
What are the opening hours?
The outer Beiling Park is open 06:00–21:00 daily. The paid Zhao Ling tomb area runs 08:00–17:00 from November through March and 08:00–18:00 from April through October, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Which metro station should I use?
Take Line 2 to Beiling Gongyuan (北陵公园) Station and use Exit B. From the south gate of the park it's about 800 m north on foot, or you can walk 1.2 km through the park itself if the weather is decent.
When was Qing Zhao Tombs built?
Construction began in 1643 under the Shunzhi Emperor and was completed in 1651 under regent Dorgon. The main Long'en Hall was rebuilt after a fire in 1742 during the Qianlong reign, and most of what you see today dates from that 18th-century restoration.
Who is buried at Qing Zhao Tombs?
Hong Taiji (1592–1643), the second Qing emperor who renamed the Later Jin dynasty Qing and completed the conquest of Korea, and his primary consort Empress Xiaoduanwen (1592–1649). Two of Hong Taiji's consorts were added to the burial in 1651.
How big is Beiling Park?
About 3.3 million square meters (330 hectares / 815 acres), making it the largest imperial mausoleum park in China and roughly twice the footprint of New York's Central Park.
Is Qing Zhao Tombs a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, inscribed in 2004 as part of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties serial property under criteria i, ii, iii, and iv. The same listing covers 13 tombs across Beijing, Shenyang, Hebei, and Hubei provinces.
Can you go inside the tomb mound?
No. The burial mound (宝顶) is fenced off and the underground chambers have not been opened to the public since the 1930s. You view it from outside the surrounding wall, similar to the Ming Tombs in Beijing.
How long should I spend at Beiling Park?
Two to three hours covers the paid tomb compound thoroughly, including the spirit way, Long'en Hall, and a walk around the back of the mound. Add another 60–90 minutes if you want to loop the lake or watch the morning tai chi and dance groups.
Is Beiling Park accessible for wheelchair users?
Partially. The outer park paths are paved and flat, but the tomb compound has several raised stone thresholds and steps at the spirit-way gates. The south gate ticket office has a wheelchair-accessible side entrance; the east gate is steps-only.
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