[2025 Xuzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Lion Hill Tomb of Chu Duke (Updated May)

Lion Mountain in Xuzhou is a famous local historical and cultural attraction, themed around Han culture, and is especially known for its relics and artifacts related to Han dynasty tombs. Here are the main attractions and highlights of Lion Mountain in Xuzhou: --- ### **Lion Mountain Attractions** 1. **Lion Mountain Tomb of the King of Chu**: - The Lion Mountain Tomb of the King of Chu is the tomb of the King of Chu from the Western Han dynasty. It is large in scale and complex in structure, and is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the Han dynasty in China. - A large number of precious cultural relics have been unearthed from the tomb, including jade burial suits, pottery figurines, and bronze ware, showcasing the superb craftsmanship and culture of the Han dynasty. - Visitors can enter the tomb to experience the mystery and grandeur of ancient imperial tombs. 2. **Han Terracotta Warriors Museum**: - The Lion Mountain Han Terracotta Warriors are another important discovery after the Qin Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an. Although smaller in scale, they are unique. - The museum displays a large number of Han dynasty terracotta warriors, including infantry, cavalry, and chariot warriors, reflecting the characteristics of Han dynasty military culture. - Compared with the Qin Terracotta Warriors, the Han Terracotta Warriors are smaller in size, but vivid in shape and rich in detail. 3. **Lion Mountain Scenic Area Natural Scenery**: - Lion Mountain itself is picturesque, with gentle slopes, making it suitable for hiking and climbing. - The mountain is covered with lush trees and fresh air, making it a great place for citizens and tourists to relax. 4. **Han Culture Theme Park**: - The scenic area has many sculptures and buildings themed around Han culture, showcasing the life scenes, clothing culture, and artistic achievements of the Han dynasty. - It is a great place for taking photos and experiencing the charm of Han culture. 5. **Other Attractions**: - **Bamboo Forest Temple**: An ancient temple near Lion Mountain, with a tranquil environment, suitable for a peaceful visit. - **Han Stone Carving Art Museum**: Displays a large number of Han dynasty stone carvings, reflecting the social life and artistic style of the Han dynasty. --- ### **Travel Tips**: - **Best Time to Visit**: Spring and autumn, with pleasant weather, suitable for outdoor activities. - **Tour Route**: It is recommended to start from the Tomb of the King of Chu, then visit the Han Terracotta Warriors Museum and Han Culture Theme Park, and finally climb the mountain to enjoy the natural scenery. - **Transportation**: Lion Mountain in Xuzhou is easily accessible, and can be reached by bus or taxi. --- ### **Special Experiences**: - **History and Culture**: Gain an in-depth understanding of Han dynasty tomb culture and military history. - **Natural Scenery**: Climb the mountain and enjoy the natural beauty. - **Photo Opportunities**: The Han Culture Theme Park and Terracotta Warriors Museum are great places for taking photos. If you are interested in Han dynasty history and culture, Lion Mountain in Xuzhou is definitely worth a visit!

Han tombs are widely distributed in China and are numerous. The Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) was a powerful dynasty in Chinese history, spanning over 400 years through the Western Han and Eastern Han periods. Due to the strong national power and economic prosperity of the Han Dynasty, as well as the prevalence of lavish burials, a large number of tombs have been left behind. Han tombs vary in type and scale, ranging from imperial tombs to those of nobles, officials, and commoners. Among them, imperial tombs are grand in scale, such as the Maoling of Emperor Wu of Han and the Yangling of Emperor Jing of Han. These tombs not only have large mounds but also rich burial objects and underground palaces. The tombs of nobles and officials are also of high standards, with rich burial objects, reflecting the ritual system and social life of the time. Commoner tombs are relatively simple but numerous. The discovery of Han tombs is of great value for studying the politics, economy, culture, art, and technology of the Han Dynasty. Archaeologists have obtained a large number of precious cultural relics and materials through the excavation of Han tombs, such as pottery figurines, bronze ware, jade ware, lacquer ware, silk fabrics, and bamboo slips, which provide physical evidence for studying Han Dynasty history. In general, Han tombs are an important part of China's cultural heritage. Their large number, wide distribution, and rich connotations are important resources for studying ancient Chinese history. The Lion Mountain Tomb of the King of Chu is located in Yunlong District, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is the tomb of a certain King of Chu during the Western Han Dynasty. The specific identity of the tomb owner is still disputed, possibly the third King of Chu, Liu Wu, or his father, Liu Yingke. The tomb was discovered in 1984 and excavated in 1994. It is now a national key cultural relic protection unit. ### Main Features: 1. **Large Scale**: The tomb is built on a mountain with a complex structure, including a tomb passage, corridor, front chamber, rear chamber, and multiple side chambers, with a total area of over 850 square meters. 2. **Rich Burial Objects**: A large number of precious cultural relics were unearthed from the tomb, such as jade ware, gold and silver ware, bronze ware, and pottery, among which the gold-threaded jade suit and jade coffin are particularly famous. 3. **Gold-threaded Jade Suit**: The gold-threaded jade suit unearthed from the tomb is made of more than 4,000 pieces of jade sewn together with gold threads, symbolizing the burial of high-ranking nobles in the Han Dynasty. 4. **Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit**: A pit of terracotta warriors and horses was found near the tomb. Although smaller in scale than the Terracotta Army of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, it still holds significant historical value. ### Historical and Cultural Value: The discovery of the Lion Mountain Tomb of the King of Chu provides important materials for studying the politics, economy, culture, and burial system of the Western Han Dynasty. The gold-threaded jade suit and terracotta warriors and horses, in particular, reflect the advanced craftsmanship and military system of the Han Dynasty. ### Tourist Information: - **Opening Hours**: Open all year round, with specific hours adjusted according to the season. - **Tickets**: Tickets are required, and prices vary according to policy changes. - **Transportation**: Visitors can take a bus or taxi from Xuzhou City. The Lion Mountain Tomb of the King of Chu is an important cultural heritage site in Xuzhou, attracting a large number of tourists and scholars for visits and research.

The Lion Mountain Chu King Mausoleum is located in Lion Mountain, Xuzhou. It is the tomb of Liu Wu, the third King of Chu who was granted fiefdom in Xuzhou in the early Western Han Dynasty. The site has a history of more than 2,100 years. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Han Dynasty, located 300 meters to the west, are a part of the Chu King Mausoleum and symbolize the troops guarding the Chu King Mausoleum. 　　 The Han Dynasty Terracotta Warriors were discovered in December 1984 and excavated by the Xuzhou Museum. In 1985, the Xuzhou Han Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum was established on the original site. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit is divided into two parts: the infantry pit and the cavalry pit. The front section of Pit 1 was filled with standing figurines, totaling 516, and the back section had about 500 pottery figurines; the front section of Pit 2 had 832 pottery figurines of various types, and the back section had 474 kneeling figurines remaining; Pit 3 has not yet been excavated; there are only a dozen figurines in Pit 4, and most of them are damaged. According to preliminary speculation, the owner of this tomb was a certain generation of Chu kings who were granted fiefdom in Xuzhou during the Han Dynasty. These pottery figurines are a microcosm of the Chu kings' military power. The discovery of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses at Lion Rock has provided important information for the study of the burial system of the time, the equipment and composition of the warriors, and the organization and use of cavalry and charioteers.

The Han Liangwang Tombs, also known as the Mangdangshan Han Tombs, are located in the national 5A-level Mangdangshan Scenic Area in Yongcheng. It is the tomb complex of Liu Wu of Liang State in the Han Dynasty and his family. It includes 13 tombs in total and covers a total area of ​​about 5.5 million square meters. It is a complex structure with magnificent momentum, made by cutting through mountains to create its framework and drilling through rocks to create its storage space. It looks like a huge underground palace and is now a national key cultural relic protection unit. ⛰【Attractions Guide】 🌈🌈In the urban area of ​​Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, there are Chuwang Mountain, Xiaogui Mountain, Dongdong Mountain, Beidong Mountain, Nandong Mountain, Woniu Mountain, Tuolan Mountain, Shizi Mountain and other places near Xuzhou. 🌈🌈There are eight locations with more than twenty seats in total. It is the tomb of the 12th generation of Chu kings in the Western Han Dynasty. The Han tombs at Xiaoguishan, Beidongshan, Dongdongshan, Tuolanshan, Nandongshan and Shizishan have been excavated or cleaned up. 🌈🌈Tomb No. 1 of the Dongdongshan Han Tombs is relatively large, with seven burial chambers and an area of ​​about 200 square meters; Tomb No. 2 is smaller in scale. In 1982, gilded bronze artifacts such as the giant "Zhao Ji Mu Pan" and the Minguang Palace Ding were unearthed. 📍Detailed address: Chuwangshan Han Tombs, Dapeng Town, Tongshan District, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, Chuwangshan Han Tombs, North Foothills 🚗Transportation strategy: 🚌Bus: Route 4 🚏, Route 15 🚏, Route 109 🚏, Route 31 🚏, Route 59 🚏 🕙Opening hours: ✅April 1st - October 31st 🕒8:30-🕒17:00; ✅November 1st - March 31st 🕒8:30-🕒16:30 💰Ticket price: 90💰/🚶‍♂️person 🌟Highlights: ✅The periodization and era characteristics of the tombs of the King of Chu in the Western Han Dynasty: ❤️The Xuzhou Chu King Tombs date from the early Han Dynasty to the Xinmang Dynasty. It is one of the areas in my country with the most discovered cave tombs of princes of the Western Han Dynasty, with the longest time span and the most complete preservation sequence.✅From it, we can clearly see its development and evolution trajectory in different periods. ✅ ❤️Although the tombs of the Kings of Chu of the Western Han Dynasty in Xuzhou are all cave tombs, the shape and structure of each tomb are different and each has its own characteristics. ✅ ❤️The architectural structure and construction scale of these tombs of the Kings of Chu in different periods are closely related to factors such as the rise and fall of the kingdom and the length of the King of Chu's reign. ✅ ❤️And with the development of the times, it shows obvious development and evolution patterns in the early, middle and late stages. ✅ ❤️This article gives an overview of the periodization and era characteristics of the Western Han Dynasty Chu King Cave Tomb. ✅ 📌Tips: Xuzhou is located in the southward extension belt of Shandong hills. The Chu capital Pengcheng is surrounded by mountains. The geographical conditions of more mountains and less soil provide the necessary natural conditions for the construction of cave tombs;✅ The Xuzhou area has a long-standing custom of building tombs in the mountains. According to historical records, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, Huan Tui, a senior official of the State of Song, had excavated a stone coffin tomb in Xuzhou, thus laying the foundation for the final formation of the large cave tomb of the King of Chu in the Western Han Dynasty;✅ Cultural ideas and political factors such as "Huang-Lao inaction" and "resting with the people" advocated in the early Han Dynasty. ✅ Fourthly, the widespread use of iron tools and the emergence of steel-making skills played a decisive role in the construction and final formation of rock cave tombs during the Western Han Dynasty. Metallographic analysis shows that the iron chisel unearthed from the Chu King's Tomb in Lion Mountain was used for steel-making. ✅

My earliest impression of Xuzhou actually comes from Tao Qian's three offers of Xuzhou in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but the earlier Xuzhou was actually the fiefdom of the Chu king during the Han Dynasty, hence the saying, 'Look to Xi'an for the Qin and Tang Dynasties, and to Xuzhou for the two Han Dynasties.' The two Han Dynasties in Xuzhou refer to the Chu King's Mausoleum. During the two Han periods, Xuzhou produced 13 Chu kings and 5 Pengcheng kings. Although the history books record that 'the Han followed the Qin system', the Western Han Chu kings adopted a unique burial method of 'making tombs according to the mountains', and their tombs are scattered among the mountains around Xuzhou. The most famous of these is the Lion Mountain Chu King Mausoleum, located on the south slope of the main peak of Lion Mountain at 400 meters, carved into the rock to form a tomb, which is the first Chu King Mausoleum I visited this time. Although it's not my first time tomb raiding, the yin energy of the Lion Mountain Chu King Mausoleum still inevitably gives me a bit of a chill. Entering from the outer tomb passage, the long corridor and dim light, the atmosphere of tomb raiding is full, the tall walls on both sides are the original form of more than two thousand years ago, leading people into the depths of the mountain 14 meters deep. It's hard to imagine how the ancients 2000 years ago used simple tools like iron chisels and axes to hollow out an entire mountain. However, once inside the tomb, there are no carvings or even murals on either side of the tomb passage, more like a rough mountain tunnel in the eyes of modern people, and outside the tomb passage there are also corridors, ear chambers, side chambers, coffin chambers, etc., all empty, not very interesting to look at. This Chu King Mausoleum was actually robbed in the early years, but three ear chambers were lucky to escape, making it the best of the Chu King Mausoleums in Xuzhou, with a wealth of unearthed cultural relics, the most famous of which is the jade suit sewn with gold thread, which is the best quality, most jade pieces, and most exquisite craftsmanship of all the jade suits unearthed in our country, and is now the treasure of the Xuzhou Museum. So the question is, who is the owner of this Chu King Mausoleum? There is no conclusion yet, but from the burial objects, there are seals of Wenyang in Xue County and Lanling in Donghai County, so the range is basically set to be the second generation Chu King Liu Yingke or the third generation Chu King Liu Wu. But the current preference is for Liu Yingke. This brings us to the second highlight of the Lion Mountain Chu King Mausoleum - the Han Terracotta Warriors. Coming out of the main tomb, you can walk to the Han Terracotta Warriors Museum. Including the exhibition hall built on the original site, and a underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum. Of course, the so-called underwater is more of a gimmick, can be ignored. I have seen the Han Terracotta Warriors in Hanyang Mausoleum in Xi'an before, these are similar, they are more like a scaled-down version of the Qin Terracotta Warriors, although the realism is a bit worse, but the subject matter is richer, and they look cute. Returning to the topic of the tomb owner, since the third generation Chu King Liu Wu died because of rebellion against the central government at that time and was defeated in battle, it is logical to infer that he should not enjoy honor after death. But this Chu King Mausoleum has royal ceremonial objects such as jade suits sewn with gold thread and terracotta warriors, so people tend to favor the second generation Chu King Liu Yingke. 🏠Name | Lion Mountain Chu King Mausoleum 🎫Ticket | 90 yuan ⛳Address | 1 Bingmayong Road, Yunlong District, Xuzhou City 🚗Transportation | Navigate to 'Lion Mountain Chu King Mausoleum'

Great history place for everyone who interesting about old chinese history