“The great affairs of the country lie in worship and military service.”
In every town, there is an ancestral temple where the ruler’s seat is known as the capital. No town is simply called a town; the settlement is referred to as a building, and the capital is called the city.
— Justice in the Zuo Zhuan of the Spring and Autumn Period
Historically, sacrificial ceremonies have played a vital role in defining the hierarchy of settlements, with sacrificial facilities symbolizing ancient power and status. The sacrificial road (tu) typically runs along the main axis of a city, flanked by even-numbered buildings facing one another, creating a strong centripetal force and commanding leadership.
Under the clouds lies the Yu Festival Square.
The Dayu Mausoleum is nestled at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain, six kilometers southeast of Shaoxing City, spanning 245 acres. It is backed by Kuaiji Mountain and faces Yuchi in the front, offering scenic beauty and a majestic presence. Dayu, known as the founder of the Chinese nation and an ancient hero in water management, represents one of the core cultures of Chinese civilization and a pillar of national pride. Revered by generations, Dayu’s legacy has been continuously celebrated and worshiped through various dynasties.
The worship ceremony honoring Yu has been passed down for over 4000 years since the beginning of the Xia dynasty and continues to this day. In 2007, it was elevated to a national-level sacrificial event, held annually during the Grain Rain season. As times evolve, the scenic area requires expanded spaces to accommodate growing social responsibilities and public expectations.
Overlooking the Yu Worship Square from the statue of Yu the Great atop the mountain.
The renovation, expansion, and upgrading project of the Dayu Mausoleum scenic area aims to reorganize the spatial structure of the entire site, enhance its functions, and promote the dissemination of Dayu sacrificial culture. This will allow visitors to genuinely connect with, remember, and honor this revered Chinese ancestor within both natural and cultural landscapes.
△ Yu Worship Square before renovation
△ Renovated Yu Worship Square (view from Mountain Enjoyment Hall)
Pre-renovation view of the Shinto from an offset angle.
The renovated Shinto aligns perfectly along the central axis with the Yu Worship Square, Mountain Enjoyment Hall, and the statue of Yu the Great on the mountaintop.
Upon my first visit to the Great Yu Mausoleum, I immediately sensed the strong ceremonial spatial order characteristic of an imperial tomb. However, due to the limited scale of the previous Yu Worship Square, the axis between the Shinto, Yu Worship Square, Mountain Enjoyment Hall, and the mountaintop statue formed a skewed relationship. To strengthen and enhance the spatial order of the worship path to Yu, after numerous site inspections and consultations with the property owners, we proposed a bold adjustment: shifting the axis of the latter half of the Shinto Road southward. This realignment maintains a central axis connection with the Yu Worship Square, Mountain Enjoyment Hall, and the statue of Yu the Great atop the mountain. This adjustment not only enhances spatial harmony but also restores the sacrificial road’s commanding presence within the craftsman camp.
The spatial layout of the Dayu Mausoleum scenic area is organized into six key nodes from west to east after the design adjustments.
General plan of Phase I renovation, expansion, and upgrading project of Dayu Mausoleum scenic area.
A. The main entrance has been reorganized while retaining the original gate. It now features a new double-layered stone lattice star gate and a tourist center inspired by the “Four Ah Heavy Houses” palace structure of the Xia Dynasty. A large parking lot complements this integrated entrance and service area.
Entrance gate of the scenic area.
△ Aerial view of the newly constructed tourist center.
B. The Jiulong Altar has been expanded spatially, increasing its diameter to 38 meters and height to 6 meters, enhancing its presence to match the upgraded scenic area.
△ Upgraded Kowloon Altar.
C. The latter half of the Shinto path has been adjusted to better conform to traditional imperial tomb layouts. The central axis now aligns with the Luoshu Platform, Water Altar, Dayu Mausoleum Stele, Mountain Enjoyment Hall, and the Yu statue atop the mountain, reflecting the ritual system of sacrificial architecture and embodying the true meaning of the sacrificial tomb dedicated to Yu.
The Shinto after renovation.
D. The Yu Worship Hall connects to the Shinto Road on the west. At the end of this path stands a bronze stele (7.2m by 10.9m) featuring the character “Yu” prominently on the west facade. The hall’s roof is adorned with nine tripods symbolizing Yu the Great’s achievements, while the distant statue of Yu reinforces its significance. The architecture forms an artificial enclosure with several concentric symmetrical curved stone walls, creating a solemn and secluded sacrificial space. This enhances the mystery and ritual of the Yu Worship Road.
The hall houses various functions within the curved walls, including waiting, rehearsal, rest, and media rooms. The facade is crafted from high-quality deep black granite, 250mm thick, set in vertical dry-laid masonry. Compared to traditional curtain walls, this design imparts a more stable and weighty presence. The granite’s color tone is presented in three depths using techniques such as fire treatment, water washing, and polishing, paying homage to the black culture of the Xia Dynasty in both color and texture.
△ Shrine at the end of the Shinto path before renovation.
△ Renovated temple dedicated to Yu at the end of the Shinto Road.
Shrine at the end of Shinto.
The bronze stele with the character “Yu” centered on the west facade.
△ Space in front of the bronze stele featuring the character “Yu.”
The statue of Dayu on the distant mountaintop.
The Yu Worship Hall enclosed by concentric stone walls.
Three-color-depth stone dry masonry wall.
Transition space between the concentric walls.
E. The Yu Worship Square is encircled by the Yu Worship Hall, allowing visitors to access the square by following the divine path around the hall’s axis end. To respect the feng shui of the imperial tomb, the square’s original center and the positioning of the bell and drum pavilions, as well as the water sacrificial platforms on both sides, remain unchanged. The central Tai Chi platform was replaced with the Luoshu platform, better reflecting Dayu’s culture.
The square’s radius has expanded to 66 meters, increasing its viewing capacity from 1,000 to 10,000 people. To create a more comfortable viewing experience during sacrificial ceremonies, the grandstand is designed as a fan-shaped stepped structure that rises and spreads outward. This echoes the concentric circular construction of the Yu Sacrificial Hall, directing focus inward toward the Luoshu Platform. During ceremonies, main participants wait at the Yu Sacrificial Hall, exit through the central corridor, cross the Luoshu Platform at the square’s center, and ascend six steps to the Water Sacrificial Platform for the rituals.
After passing the Yu Worship Hall, visitors arrive at the Yu Worship Square.
△ Front facade of the Yu Festival Square.
△ Fan-shaped stepped viewing platform.
The square’s floor is paved with black bricks and stones, paying tribute to the black culture of the Xia Dynasty.
△ Square center and drum tower.
△ Corridor 26.
△ Breakdown diagram of Yu Festival Square.
F. The Dayu Mausoleum Stele, Mountain Enjoyment Hall, and Peak Yu Statue are situated at the end of the axis, primarily undergoing renovation and preservation.
△ Yuling Space.
The spirit of Yu the Great, as a vital source of national ethos, embodies the roots and soul of traditional Chinese culture. As the saying goes, “Heaven is beautiful and Yu is virtuous; through hard work, a hundred birds return to the people’s fields.” The Sacrifice to Yu Square, as the essence of the Yu Mausoleum space and a new creation within a historical context, avoids arbitrary innovation. Instead, it focuses on reinterpreting history thoughtfully, balancing cultural relic preservation with scenic renewal. It creates commemorative spaces that intertwine past and present, enriching visitors’ spatial experiences and guiding them to deeply feel, reflect, and convey the spiritual essence of this place. This enduring power will continue to be preserved, inherited, and promoted for generations to come.
△ General plan of Dayu Mausoleum Phase I.
△ Roof plan of Yu Festival Square.
△ First floor plan of Yu Festival Square.
△ West facade of the Yu Sacrificial Hall.
△ Section view of Yu Worship Square.
Project Information
Project Name: Return of the Road of Worship – Shaoxing Dayu Mausoleum Scenic Area Sacrificial Square Renovation, Expansion and Upgrading Project
Design Unit: Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute ACRC
Office Website: www.udacrc.com
Website: www.uadacrc.com
Lead Architects: Hu Huifeng, Peng Rongbin
Full Design Team: Hu Huifeng, Peng Rongbin, Zhang Chenfan, Zhang Ziquan, Xie Xidan
Owner: Shaoxing Cultural Tourism Group Co., Ltd
Design Period: March 2019 – August 2019
Construction Period: August 2019 – June 2020
Land Area: 48,716.96 square meters
Building Area: 3,285.27 square meters
Structural Team: Zhang Jie, Ding Ziwen, Jiang Xiao, Wang Zhongming, Chen Xu
Landscape Team: Wu Weiling, Wang Jietao, Xu Conghua, Zhang Chi, Yao Haiyan, He Ying, Ao Dandan, Gu Jingxian
Interior Design: Li Jingyuan, Jia Ru, Hu Xu, Zhou Yuan
Lighting Design: Wang Xiaodong, Niu Mengmeng, Jiang Yuanmin, Huang Xiaodong
Construction: Zhejiang Chaorun Construction Co., Ltd
Materials: Granite, Copper, Metal Tile
Photographer: Zhao Qiang
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