Plan at a glance
An underground tomb in the Balingshan cemetery
The Tomb of Prince Liao is in Xinchang Village, Balingshan Town, inside the Balingshan ancient-tomb complex. Buy a ticket at the visitor center before going down to the underground palace. The site suits visitors interested in Ming imperial princes, tomb architecture, and quieter out-of-town places; driving is easier than trying to arrange local transport on arrival.
Ticket and opening hours
Adult admission is about CNY 30, with online products sometimes around CNY 20–24. Visitors aged 70 and above may qualify for free admission, but the accepted documents should be confirmed when buying the ticket. No reservation is normally required. Hours are Monday to Sunday, 08:00–17:30, with last entry at 16:30; allow time to go underground and return to the surface.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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The five-room underground palace
The underground palace covers more than 100 square metres and has a “王”-shaped plan with five rooms. Brick walls use tight brick joints, and the ceiling is a barrel vault. The front, middle, and rear halls follow a central axis, making the site useful for visitors interested in brick construction and tomb layout.
Stone doors, door studs, and the tomb owner
Large stone doors stand between the front, middle, and rear halls, with nine rows by nine columns of stone studs. The tomb owner was Zhu Zhi, Prince Jian of Liao, the fifteenth son of the Hongwu Emperor. The door system and underground plan are the main details to watch if you are interested in Ming princely institutions and burial hierarchy.
Who it suits
The site suits history and archaeological-architecture enthusiasts who are willing to travel to a remote location for a concentrated visit. The underground rooms are dim, and there is little to see beyond the tomb itself. If you are only making a stop on the way, 30–60 minutes is usually enough; visitors less interested in Ming princely tombs can use the rest of a half-day for other attractions.
Build your day
A 30–60 minute underground-tomb route
Enter from the visitor center and go straight down to the underground palace. Follow the central axis through the front, middle, and rear halls, then return to the surface and see the spirit path and stone archway before leaving. Follow on-site photography rules; using a phone’s night mode is easier than stopping in the passage for long periods.
A full-day countryside combination
If you are also visiting King Chu Chariot Array, see the chariot pits and burial park in the morning, then drive to the Tomb of Prince Liao for the underground rooms, stone doors, and tomb structure in the afternoon. The two sites require a driving connection, not a walk. Confirm the next leg of transport before leaving.
Leaving and nearby food
Return from the visitor center to your car after the visit. On the road from the main route to the attraction, farm restaurants offer fish hotpot and local chicken. Balingshan National Forest Park is a nearby nature extension, not part of the tomb site.
Get there
Driving and parking
The drive from central Jingzhou takes about 40–60 minutes. Navigate to Xinchang Village in Balingshan Town or the Tomb of Prince Liao visitor center. A free car park is available at the visitor center; after parking, buy the ticket and walk down to the underground palace before returning to the same parking area.
Public transport and return
You can look for a bus from Jingzhou Passenger Transport Hub toward Balingshan Town or Xinchang. The fare is about CNY 8, and the final stop is still about 1.2 kilometres from the site. The area is remote and taxis are difficult to find outside the entrance, so non-driving visitors should arrange a ride-hailing car or pickup before going and confirm the return vehicle in advance.
Know before you go
Light and atmosphere underground
The underground rooms are dim, and the stone doors and barrel vaults are best viewed slowly. The space is quiet and slightly cool, with older facilities and relatively few visitors. A straightforward historic-site expectation fits the visit better than treating it as a large museum.
Timing, tickets, and shoes
Last entry is at 16:30. Even the short route needs time for the descent, return to the surface, and the spirit path. There is walking both above and below ground, so wear comfortable shoes. Confirm online discounts, senior admission, and the on-site ticket separately, and arrange the return vehicle before leaving if you are not driving.