The Eastern Imperial Tombs are located in Malanyu, Northwest Zunhua, Hebei Province, 125 km away from Beijing. Among the tombs are the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Emperor Shunzhi, Jingling Mausoleum of Emperor Kangxi, Yuling Mausoleum of Emperor Qianlong , Dingling Mausoleum of Emperor Xianfeng, Huiling Mausoleum of Emperor Tongzhi, four tombs of empresses, including Empress Dowager Ci'an and Empress Dowager Cixi, five tombs of imperial concubines, and a princess' tomb.

The eastern tombs comprise the largest and most complete complex of imperial tombs in China. Of these, the Yuling Mausoleum of Emperor Qianlong and Dingling Mausoleum of Empress Dowager Cixi are the most magnificent. In 1928, however, the underground palaces were looted by warlord Sun Dianying and the tombs suffered heavy damages.

The scenery around the eastern tombs is very attractive. Qing government rules designated the tomb area as geomantic in nature and therefore forbidden to the people. Fifteen tombs are arranged from east to west along the southern foot of Changduan Mountain. Behind the tombs are rolling hills and in front is a long spiritual pathway. Along the central axis of the complex are the temples and palatial structures, with red walls and golden tiles among green pines and cypresses. From above, they resemble islets dotting a vast green sea. The large and small "Dragon Beard Ditches" of each tomb zigzag and coil like dragons, with gently flowing streams under sturdy stone bridges. In the early morning or late afternoon, one can spot the beamed eaves, pavilions and garrets, and human and animal stone figures through the foliage.

 Construction of the Tombs

It was said that during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1661), Emperor Shunzhi went hunting near the area that is now the Xiaoling Mausoleum at the foot of Changduan Mountain, where he found a quiet and beautiful spot in a luxuriant setting among the green mountains. He then took off his ban zhi (an animal-bone thumb guard worn by archers) and threw it up into sky, telling his bodyguard: "Where the ban zhi falls will be my burial place."