Mausoleum of Yu the Great (Dayu Mausoleum)

The Mausoleum of Yu the Great, known as the Dayu Mausoleum, stands at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain in Yuecheng District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China. Yu the Great is the legendary hero who tamed the floods in ancient China and founded the Xia dynasty, and tradition holds that he died and was buried here. The complex has been a site of worship for more than two thousand years, and emperors, including the First Emperor of Qin, are recorded as visiting. Visitors enter along a long processional way lined with stone figures and trees, which leads to a plaza and the main compound. The principal buildings include the Yu Temple, with a hall housing a large statue of Yu, the memorial hall presenting the flood-control legend and the history of the cult, and the Yu Tomb with its inscribed stele. There are also ritual spaces, pavilions and old trees, and a bronze-cast tripod and stone tablets. The architecture is a restrained blend of Ming and Qing halls on the ancient site, with red walls and yellow tiles. A visit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The scenic area opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM, with the last ticket sold at 4:30 PM. Admission is reported at 50 to 60 yuan, and sources disagree, so confirm at the gate. Weekday mornings are quietest. The busiest time is around Qingming in early April, when memorial ceremonies are held and crowds gather, which also makes it the most atmospheric. The best photographs are taken along the processional way and from the steps of the temple hall facing the mountain. Buses or Didi from the old town take about 20 to 25 minutes, and weekend sightseeing buses connect the site with other attractions. It pairs well with Kuaiji Mountain, whose ticket is separate.