Tomb and Ancestral Shrine of Lan Mao in Songming County, Kunming

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📜 History & Origins

Located in Nanjie Village, Yanglin Town, Songming County in Yunnan, Lan Mao’s Tomb and Langong Ancestral Hall were first built in 1476 during the Ming Dynasty to honor Lan Mao (1397–1470) — a renowned physician, pharmacologist, and phonologist of his time.

Over the centuries, the ancestral hall underwent several restorations. The current complex was reconstructed in 1988, faithfully following the original four-sided courtyard design, with funding from the provincial, municipal, and county governments. In 1985, the Lan Mao Memorial Hall was established, combining cultural preservation with academic research functions.

🏯 Architectural Layout & Features

The entire site covers 3,360 square meters, arranged in a three-courtyard, four-sided layout. Key structures include the main gate, central hall, side rooms, and the tomb area.

• Tomb: Positioned in the rear courtyard, the circular earthen mound measures 4.7 meters in diameter and is encircled by curved stone blocks. The tombstone inscription, reading “Tomb of Ming Dynasty Gentleman Lan Yin” (明兰隐君墓), was written in elegant calligraphy by late Qing Dynasty scholar Yuan Jiagu, the last imperial examination zhuangyuan (状元).

• Main Hall: Five bays wide with a hip-and-gable (歇山顶) roof. Its carved lattice wooden doors and painted dougong brackets preserve elements of the Song architectural style.

📚 Cultural Value & Exhibitions

The memorial hall features three thematic exhibition areas: Medicine, Phonology, and Literature. Highlights include:

• A reproduction of Lan Mao’s “Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan” (滇南本草) manuscript.

• Research findings from “Rhyming Guide Simplified” (韵略易通).

• Poetry collections such as “Xuan Hu Ji” (玄壶集).

The collection holds 408 artifacts, including medicinal plant specimens, bronze ware, and ancient coins. More than 5,000 visitors come each year, and in 2023, a digital tour system was introduced to enhance traditional Chinese medicine education.

🛡 Preservation & Visitor Information

Lan Mao’s Tomb and Langong Ancestral Hall were listed as a Yunnan Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Site in 1983 and upgraded to a National 3A Tourist Attraction in 2023.

• Opening Hours: 9:00–16:00 (last entry at 15:30)

• Admission: Free

• Recent Developments: In 2024, infrastructure upgrades began, improving navigation signage and public facilities. Plans include adding a cultural street zone with herbal cuisine experiences to link heritage with local tourism.