“Oriental Pyramid” – King Jangsu’s Tomb

King Jangsu’s Tomb is also called General’s Tomb. It is the most complete existing stone tomb. It was built in the fifth century AD for King Jangsu – the 20th Gaogouli king. The tomb looks like a pointless pyramid, so it is extolled as “Oriental Pyramid”. The 13.1-meter- tall terraced tomb sits on a raised square plot, with each side measuring 31.58 meters. The tomb chamber was built between the fourth and the fifth terrace and covered from above with a huge stone weighing over 50 tons. Something resembling a funerary temple was originally built on the tomb. There are 11 huge stones each weighing over 10 tons around the base of the tomb to support it. To the northeast of the tomb, there are several attendant tombs and 200 meters to the southwest, there is a ruin of sacrifice, covering an area of five hectares.

The elaborate design and the exquisite stonework make King Jangsu’s tomb paramount to all other stone tombs in Gaogouli kingdom. No stone tomb was built for later Gaogouli kings, so it becomes the last of its kind.