Malanyu 马兰峪镇 | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates (Malanyu town government):40°11′24″N117°42′00″E / 40.1899°N 117.7001°E /40.1899; 117.7001 | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Hebei |
| Prefecture-level city | Tangshan |
| County-level City | Zunhua |
| Area | |
• Total | 52.05 km2 (20.10 sq mi) |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 25,675 |
| • Density | 493.3/km2 (1,278/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
Malanyu (simplified Chinese:马兰峪镇;traditional Chinese:馬蘭峪鎮;pinyin:Mǎlányù Zhèn) is atown approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the city ofZunhua,Hebei, which administrates the town, and about 120 kilometres (75 mi) from theForbidden City in Beijing. It hosts theEastern Qing Tombs, a site that is the final resting place of some of the Qing emperors and empresses. The 78 square kilometres (30 sq mi) site, known more widely as theEastern Qing Tombs, is the burial place for 5 emperors, 15 empresses and 136 imperial concubines within 15 tombs, including theShunzhi Emperor, theKangxi Emperor, theQianlong Emperor, andEmpress Dowager Cixi. The town spans an area of 52.05 square kilometres (20.10 sq mi), and has ahukou population of 25,675 as of 2018.[1]
Malanyu is home to theYongwang Tower [zh], aMing-era tower.[2]
While on a hunting trip, theShunzhi Emperor of theQing dynasty, allegedly awestruck by the area's beauty, declared that he wished to be buried there.[3] His successor, theKangxi Emperor, began the construction of tombs on the site, now known as theEastern Qing Tombs, in 1663. Kangxi, along with a team of bothManchu andHan planners, planned out the site, which includes a number of pathways, towers, temples, pavilions, arches, and sculptures.[3] The Kangxi Emperor, after his reign, was buried at the site with his concubines.[3]
In 1928, the Eastern Qing Tombs were robbed in alarge-scale looting orchestrated by local warlordSun Dianying, and his subordinate,Tan Wenjiang.[3] Despite widespread outrage at the looting, even by top Chinese officials, Sun faced no reprocussions.[3]
Malanyu is divided into 1neighborhood committee and 25administrative villages.[2] There are 30 natural villages (Chinese:自然村) in Malanyu.[2]
Malanyu is one of the twominority-majority towns in Zunhua,[4] withHan Chinese constituting only 13% of the town's population.[2] While most of the people in Malanyu are ethnically Manchu, there are also significantMongol andHui populations.[2]