Eastern Qing Tombs Yuling Mausoleum Small Stele Pavilion

In 1743, at the height of the Qing dynasty's wealth, stonecutters in Zunhua began shaping the sacred road of the Yuling Mausoleum. They completed their work in 1752, leaving behind the Small Stele Pavilion, a square ceremonial gateway positioned south of the Macao Gutter. This structure stands on the central axis of the Qianlong Emperor's tomb, mimicking the layout of the older Jingling Mausoleum.

Above, a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof covered in imperial yellow glazed tiles catches the northern light. Below, four arched entranceways pierce the walls, inviting the wind from all four directions. Stonecarvers decorated these archways with motifs of trailing plants and baoxiang flowers. For the foundation, the builders sourced massive, single blocks of dark green marble known as Aiyeqing. These weather-resistant stones remain cool to the touch, their smooth, heavy edges showing the precision of eighteenth-century tools. Using single-block stones of this scale was an extraordinary luxury, reserved for the peak of imperial power.

Inside the quiet pavilion, a stone stele rests on the back of a dragon-headed stone tortoise, the Bixi. Scribes carved the temple name, Gaozong, and the posthumous titles of the Qianlong Emperor into the stone. Today, the pavilion is exceptionally well-preserved. Recognized as a national protected site in 1961 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000, it remains a key attraction within the Eastern Qing Tombs Yuling Mausoleum scenic area.