Shenyang - Northern Imperial Tomb / Mausoleum of Light

(Local Name: Bei Ling / Zhaoling) Also known as the ''Mausoleum of Light'' (Zhaoling), the Northern Imperial Tomb is a popular place with day visitors. It is situated in the north of the city in the middle of a park. The architectural style represents a successful combination of the traditionally arranged Chinese burial sites and the castle-like buildings of the early Qing period - a masterpiece of an amalgamation of Han and Manchurian art. Buried here is Huang Taiji (reigned 1626-35) and his wife. The building work on the 180,000sq.m/215,280sq.yd tomb site was begun in 1643 and completed eight years later. It is the best preserved and largest of the three imperial mausoleums in and around Shenyang