The Zhao Mausoleum, commonly called the North Mausoleum, and situated in the northern suburbs of Shenyang City, is the tomb of Abahai, the second emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and Empress Borjit. Its construction started in the eighth year of Emperor Chongde's reign (1643) and ended in the eighth year of Emperor Shunzhi's reign (1651). Afterward, Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Jiaqing added extensions to it.
    The Zhao Mausoleum covers an area of 180,000-square-meter. Protected on all sides by winding walls, it consists of three parts:the front part, the middle part and the rear part. The buildings from the Dismounting Stele to the Zhenghong Gate belong to the front part. The main buildings here are ceremonial columns, carved lions, stone bridge, stone archway, Robe-chanting pavilion and Butchering Pavilion. The buildings from the Zhenghong Gate to the Gate of Imperial Favor belong to the Middle part. The main buildings here are two pairs of ceremonial columns, six pairs of carved beasts, stele-pavilion, fruits and tea room, meal-preparing room and dish-washing room. In the rear part from the Gate of Imperial Favor to the Treasure Dome, there are such main buildings as the Hall of Imperial Favor with two accompanying palaces on both sides, Gate of Imperial Favor, Mausoleum Tower, turret, silk-burning pavilion and Underground Palace. By combining the building style of the Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty with that of the Manchurians, the Zhao Mausoleum sets a good model for the cultural exchange between the Han and the Manchu nationalities. The Zhao Mausoleum, Fu Mausoleum and Yong Mausoleum together are called “Three Mausoleums north of the Great Wall”.