Yue Fei Mausoleum

Introducing Yue Fei Mausoleum
Built in 1221 and worn by time, the Tomb of General Yue Fei was repaired and renovated in 1978. This two-storey majestic building is attached with a tranquil garden with tall trees just a short distance away from West Lake.

Yue Fei Mausoleum Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Yuewangmiao 岳王庙
• Best Time to Visit: March to October
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 2 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Chinese History
• Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
• Entrance Fee: ¥25
• Address: No.80, Beishan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

What to expect at Yue Fei Mausoleum

In the middle of Grand Hall of the Tomb of General Yue Fei sits a big statue of General Yue Fei. Dressed in the red-tasseled helmet of a commander, a brilliant-colored robe adorned with golden pythons and a pair of military boots, this legendary hero is handsome and manly. Above his head, a plaque engraved with characters reading Recover out Lost Territories is a masterpiece written by General Yue Fei. The rear part of the Grand Hall displays murals depicting the story of the general’s life recounted by his mother.

In the graveyard of General Yue Fei, pairs of stone horse, tiger and goat statues stand. The Tomb of General Yue Fei maintains the Song Dynasty style after the renovation in 1970s. The steel statues of Qin Hui (who is responsible for General Yue Fei’s death), his wife and the two accomplices kneeling here are spat on and cursed by people passing by!

For international visitors, the story of General Yue Fei is far more appealing than the temple and mausoleum built to commemorate him. However, the Tomb of General Yue Fei with serene setting and a sense of history, is a good place to seek contemplation. The Tomb of General Yue Fei shelters 125 steles containing Yue Fei’s writings, among which a poem titled Rivers all Red endures as the most famous one:

Bristling with anger against the pillar
I look forward.
A pattering rain just over.
As I raise my eyes,
And roar to the skies
My ambitions are soaring high.
My contributions of the past thirty years
Are as trivial as dust;
The responsibilities of my future years
Will be as heavy as their weight.
Don’t wait idle in your young days,
Tears flow in vain when your head turns gray.
Driving my chariot on expeditions
I’ll quaff the invasion
Let me win back our lost hills and rivers
Then face my emperor.

How to get to Yue Fei Mausoleum
• Take bus 7, 27, 51, 52 or 118, and get off at Yuemiao Station.

Additional travel advice on Yue Fei Mausoleum
• Please keep quiet in the temple.
• The Impression West Lake is held on the lake not far from Yue Fei Mausoleum in the evening. Visitors who want to watch the show can visit the Mausoleum in the afternoon.