In the second year of the Kangxi reign (1663), Shunzhi's tomb, the Xiaoling Mausoleum, was built at the foot of Changduan Mountain, marking the beginning of the Qing Dynasty Eastern Tombs. After that, Emperor Kangxi and his concubines were also buried in the eastern tombs.

As construction was about to begin, Emperor Kangxi sent higher officials from the Ministry of Rites from the Manchu and Han nationalities, together with two imperial commissioners, to map out the location of the tombs. Later, another pair of higher officials from the Ministry of Public Works from the Manchu and Han nationalities were sent for inspections. Talented officials from eight banners and other officials from the Ministry of Public Works also assisted in the management.

During the construction process, equipment most commonly used included the compass, hoisting jack and winch. Construction methods were strict. For instance, the foundation had to be dug deep with many wooden stakes and pegs. The foundation of the Long'en Palace of Empress Dowager Cixi, for example, was more than four meters deep, and 685 cypress stakes and 8,881 pegs were driven into the ground with the earth packed tight around them. The roof of Empress Dowager Cixi's mausoleum has five layers of plaster, each 9.9 cm thick, alternating with layers of compacted earth. In addition, glutinous rice was added to the plaster to produce a solid castle roof despite many years' erosion by wind and rain. Underground palaces were also reinforced with iron hooks, stakes and pegs to produce very solid structures.

 Layout of the Eastern Tombs

Located in the center of the eastern tombs under the main peak of Changduan Mountain is the tomb of Emperor Shunzhi. Located along a brick-paved spiritual pathway, 12 meters wide and five km long is a large red gate, locker palace, big and small decorated arches, stone creatures, Gate of the Dragon and Phoenix , single-arched bridge, five-arched bridge, seven-arched bridge, dismount tablet, Long'en Palace, Long'en Gate, silk-burning furnace, Long'en Hall, color-glazed gate, gate with two supporting pillars, five stone arches, Soul Tower and castle roof.

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