Tomb of Wangjian

Overview
The Tomb of Wangjian or Yongling Museum, is located in the downtown of Chengdu city at Fuqin Dong Road. This tomb was unearthed in 1942, and plentiful valuable artifacts were discovered in the tomb though the tomb had been robbed of its treasures over time. It is a shame that at the time of my writing, visitors are not allowed to take pictures inside the chambers of the tomb. Unfortunately, robbers have raided the tomb with the only remains being the stone carvings and its structure, though these are an exquisite example of a mausoleum palace.

Who is Wang Jian
Wang Jian (847 – July 11, 918), courtesy name Guangtu, formally Emperor Gaozu of (Former) Shu ((?)???), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. He started his career as an army officer under the Tang Dynasty eunuch generals Yang Fuguang and Tian Lingzi, eventually seizing control of the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region, founding his state after Tang's destruction.

Wang Jiang's Achievement
Wang Jian was born in 847, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. He was from Wuyang, and was said to be ambitious and alert in his youth. However, he was also described to be a hoodlum, abandoning his ancestral craft of baking to be involved in butchering cattle, stealing donkeys, and privateering in salt. His father died while he was still a commoner. 

At one point, for misdeeds, he was incarcerated at the jail at Xuchang (??, in modern Xuchang, Henan), the capital of Zhongwu Circuit (??), which Wuyang sat in, but the jailers privately released him. He subsequently stayed with the monk Chuhong (??) in the Wudang Mountains, and Chuhong encouraged him to change his ways, predicting that there would be great accomplishments in his future. He thus joined the Zhongwu Circuit army and became an officer under then-military governor (Jiedushi) Du Shenquan.

What to See in Wangjian Tomb
You can see many cultural relics here, the unearthed important cultural relics include mourning brochures, jade belt, jade ring, silver bowls, silver pigs, silver dish, copper and iron wares and pottery.Three groups of refined stone carvings were unearthed from the tomb: the first group in the middle chamber depicts 12 Hercules uplifting and supporting coffin, the second group is 24 pictures about music performances, the third group includes the basso-relievos in the front side of the imperial bed, and the sitting statue of Wang Jian.

Information
Admission Fee: CNY 30
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 16:50
Suggested Visit Time : One hour
Bus Lines: 25, 46, 42, 48, 54