Harems of imperial concubines, royal theft, arsenic poisoning, rumors of fratricide and patricide... Today's peaceful sights of the Western Qing Tombs belie the periods of drama and intrigue that absorbed them before.

Beijing may be renowned as the historical and cultural capital of China, but it accordingly has a reputation for drawing large crowds of tourists. All of China is filled with history, and just outside of Beijing there are Qing Dynasty sites which are overlooked too often.

Just 140 kilometers from Beijing are a number of Qing Tombs at Chang Xi Ling, close to Hebei province's Yi County. Beijing's Ming Tombs somehow get all the attention from the busloads of tourists on their way to the Great Wall, but Hebei's tombs offer a quiet, more meditative and diverse experience.

Emperor Yongzheng's tomb consists of an extensive series of architectural spaces. Series of five gates and five bridges majestically welcome or threaten visitors.

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