The sounds that emerged sparked curiosity and fear, which experts have decoded.
In 1994, a worker accidentally discovered that the steps of an ancient tomb frequently emitted sounds while cleaning at the Tomb of the Heavenly Emperor in Cixi County, Hebei Province.
As soon as someone walks by, the steps produce sounds resembling dripping water. (Image: Sohu).
The Tomb of the Heavenly Emperor is the burial site of Emperor Xiao Jing of the Eastern Wei dynasty. According to historical records, he was talented in both literature and martial arts, known for his high moral character, but he did not leave behind significant achievements in history, as he was essentially a puppet emperor from the start.
After the strange sounds of the tomb steps were discovered, people found it hard to believe. Some speculated that it could be a curse of a thousand years left by Emperor Xiao Jing.
Numerous rumors were generated and quickly spread throughout the area, causing a stir. Many people even traveled to the site to verify the strange noises themselves.
This phenomenon also attracted experts who came to investigate and study. After their research, they quickly revealed the mystery behind the “tong tong” sound resembling flowing water produced by the steps.
Firstly, the experts confirmed that the sound was unrelated to Emperor Xiao Jing. The staircase has a total height of approximately 23.9 meters, a width of about 5 meters, and consists of 109 steps.
The bricks forming the steps have not been smoothed, maintaining a rough surface. The angle between the steps and the ground is about 50 degrees, distributed relatively evenly, creating many surfaces that reflect and refract sound waves uniformly.
The sound produced by the footsteps of many people ascending the stairs of the Tomb of the Heavenly Emperor creates a special physical phenomenon. It could simply be a coincidence of various factors that result in sounds resembling dripping water.
After experts explained the peculiar sounds generated by the steps, tourists from all over became increasingly interested in the steps of the Tomb of the Heavenly Emperor. Many wished to visit and witness the wonders of these steps firsthand.
Particularly on China’s National Day, the number of visitors increased significantly. Today, the Tomb of the Heavenly Emperor has become one of the key national cultural heritage sites, managed and protected.
