Tomb of Prince Chong of Chen of the Eastern Han Dynasty

The tomb of Liu Chong, Prince of Chen in the Eastern Han Dynasty, is situated in the southwest of Duanzhuang Village, east of North Great Pass in the northern county seat. It was excavated in August 1988. Dating back to the mid-to-late Eastern Han Dynasty, the tomb boasts a history of nearly 2,000 years. Among all Han Dynasty tombs unearthed in China in recent decades, this brick-and-stone burial chamber stands out for its grand scale, unique layout and excellent state of preservation. Resembling an "underground labyrinth", it is unparalleled in Henan Province and rarely seen nationwide.

Huaiyang has a profound history. Starting when King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed Gui Man, a descendant of Emperor Shun, to establish the State of Chen, and ending when Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song conferred the title Prince of Chen on Min, a total of 63 kings, dukes and marquises were enfeoffed here, and Liu Chong, Prince of Chen, was one of them. Textual research confirms that the tomb was constructed in 120 AD, and Liu Chong, Prince Qing of Chen, was buried here in 125 AD.

The burial chamber measures 28.3 meters from east to west and 18.2 meters from north to south. Over a thousand rare treasures were unearthed from the tomb, including a jade suit sewn with silver threads, a three-tiered stone granary building carved with pictorial reliefs, long-sleeved jade dancing figurines, a pixie-shaped warding-off lamp, an armrest table, dragon-shaped jade pendants, bronze chariot and horse ornaments, Wu Zhu coins, Huo Quan coins, Han brick ink slabs, stone pigs, stone chickens and various pottery wares. In particular, tomb bricks inscribed with four characters "An Jun Shou Bi" (May the Lord enjoy eternal peace and longevity) count as extremely rare relics.

The excavation of the Prince of Chen’s Tomb earned high praise from superior authorities and archaeological experts. Leaders at provincial, municipal and county levels attached great importance to the site and allocated successive funds for restoration work. It has now been designated a Provincial Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit.

The Prince of Chen’s Tomb predates the Dingling Mausoleum in Beijing by 1,495 years and is dozens of times larger than ancient Han tombs in Luoyang. Stepping into this "underground palace" of Prince Chong and entering the main burial chamber, visitors can see the intact, well-preserved body of Prince Liu Chong clad in the jade suit, with a luminous night pearl held in his mouth, accompanied by buried dancing maid figurines. The three-tiered pictorial stone granary buildings and bronze chariot sets housed in the left and right side chambers offer endless viewing pleasure. The surrounding covered corridors are filled with an abundant collection of exquisite burial artifacts, presenting visitors with a stunning, unforgettable experience.