Zhaojun Tomb

The Zhaojun Tomb is one if the most attractive scenic spots in Inner Mongolia, located at the bank of Dahei River, 9km south of Hohhot.

Zhaojun Refers to Wang Zhaojun, the daughter of a Han family in the present Xingshan County, Hubei Province. She was one of the four most beautiful women in ancient China. Wang Zhaojun was first selected into the imperial palace because of her beauty. One of the Xiongnu emperors, (Xiongnu is an ethnic group country) came asking for marriage in the year 33BC. Wang Zhaojun then married herself to Xiongnu at her own free will, and became the empress of that ethnic group in order to preserve a friendly relationship between the Han and Xiongnu. This event is passed down from generation to generation and is called Zhaojun Chusai. (Meaning Zhaojun went beyond the Great Wall to Xiongnu ethnic group).

Wang Zhaojun’s tomb is built here in memorial of her contribution that she made to strengthen the relationship between Han and Xiongnu. The tomb is 33 meters high, and is green if seen from far away. There is a legend to describe this phenomenon. It was said that the grass turns yellow in autumn when each year and only this tomb remained green. Thus the Zhanjun Tomb is also named as the Green Tomb (Qing Zhong). Though Wang Zhaojun was not buried here when she died and no one knows where and she died, the Zhaojun Tomb still attracts thousands of tourists. Now the Zhaojun Tombs is one of the eight most beautiful sceneries in Hohhot.