Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty) which located at southern slope of Yongning Shan (Everlasting Serenity Hill), Yi County of Hebei Province about 120 kilometers away from Beijing city, is one of the largest imperial tomb yards for Qing Dynasty. This is a mountainous area with lush greenery which creates a panoramic and breathtaking atmosphere around this piece of land. Due to the perfect surrounding from the view of Chinese Fengshui, thus, Emperor Yongzheng, the third emperor of Qing Dynasty had chosen this area as the second imperial tomb yards in year 1730.
Since the construction of Yongzheng Tai Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Yongzheng), the first imperial tomb at Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty) in 1730 until the completion of Guangxu Chong Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Guangxu) in 1915, the overall construction had gone through 186 years in a whole. There are four imperial tombs for the emperors within this tomb yard consisted of Yongzheng Tai Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Yongzheng), Jiaqing Chang Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Jiaqing), Daoguang Mu Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Daoguang) and Guangxu Chong Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Guangxu). Besides that, there are also three imperial tombs for the empresses as well as seven tombs for princes, princesses and imperial concubines. As a whole, Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty) had been the final home for a total of 78 persons including four emperors, nine empresses, 57 imperial concubines, two siblings of emperors and six princes.
There are over thousands ancient buildings within Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty) with more than hundreds units of ancient architectures and precious carvings. Each tomb within this tomb yard was built strictly according to the building principles of Qing Dynasty. The imperial tombs for the emperors as well as the empresses were built with yellow glazed tiles roofing while the tombs for princes and princesses were topped with green glazed tiles. As a result, the color of roof can signify the standard as well as the owner of the tombs.
Yongzheng Tai Ling (Imperial Tomb for Emperor Yongzheng) which strategically located right in front of the main hill of Yongning Shan (Everlasting Serenity Hill) was actually the major tomb within Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty). Yongzheng Tai Ling was the final residence for Emperor Yongzheng and his empress Xiaojing as well as his beloved imperial concubine Dunsu. Yongzheng Tai Ling can be considered as the main architecture with the largest scale and systematic structure throughout the Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty. It is located right at the center of this tomb yard with the rest of imperial tombs evenly spread on both sides.
The general setting for Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty) was basically the same when compared to Qingdong Ling (Eastern Tomb of Qing Dynasty). The first architecture which was located right in front of the entrance gate is a Five Arched Bridge and followed by three huge stone archways at the north of the bridge. After the archway, it is the place where you can find the Holy Path with width over 10 meters and length about 2.5 kilometers that led to all tombs throughout the tomb yards.
Qingxi Ling (Western Tomb of Qing Dynasty) is one of the largest ancient architecture groups which still remain throughout the nation. Besides being one of the most important sites for the study of History of Qing Dynasty, it is also possessed very high value in the sense of ancient science of architecture as well as having very high achievement in the Chinese cultural arts.