Sifang City, located within the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, is also known as the ‘Pavilion of the Stele of Divine Merit and Sacred Virtue’. It was constructed in the 11th year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1413 AD). The architectural layout is square-shaped, with the roof now destroyed, and it is commonly referred to as Sifang City. Situated across from the Da Jin Gate on either side of the Lingyuan Road, they face each other. The surrounding walls are fortress-like.
Inside the city, there is a large stone beast, with its head raised and tail dragging, as if alive, carrying on its back the Stele of Divine Merit and Sacred Virtue of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. The inscription is in regular script, spanning 2746 characters, each as large as a fist, detailing the life’s merits of the Ming Dynasty’s founder, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. It was erected by Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor, in the third year of his reign (1405 AD) in honor of his father. The stele stands at a total height of 8.84 meters, with a body height of 4.78 meters, width of 2.24 meters, and thickness of 0.83 meters, making it one of the largest existing stone tablets on the ground in the Nanjing area.
It is open to visitors all year round, with full-day access.
Sifang City
Sifang City, located within the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, is also known as the ‘Pavilion of the[...]
