Historic Site
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Tomb of General Yuan Chonghuan
The Tomb and Memorial Shrine of General Yuan Chonghuan, situated in Beijing's Dongcheng District, honors one of the Ming Dynasty’s most tragic military heroes. General Yuan successfully defended Northern China against the Jurchen (Manchu) invaders, but fell victim to a malicious defamation plot orchestrated by enemy spies. Tricked into believing Yuan was a traitor, the Chongzhen Emperor ordered his brutal public execution by 'lingchi' (death by a thousand cuts) in 1630. For centuries, reports of a headless spectral general patrolling the tomb grounds late at night have persisted among Beijing locals.