The Mausoleum of Shaohao, about 4 kilometres east of Qufu's city wall, is the supposed burial site of Shaohao, one of the Five Emperors of Chinese prehistoric legend. The site has been a place of imperial sacrifice since the Han Dynasty; the current stone pyramid structure dates from the Song Dynasty, with a small Xuanling Temple at the summit. The formal approach along a stone avenue lined with carved animals is properly ceremonial.
The mausoleum is the oldest officially recognized imperial grave site in China — predating the documented historical period by the mythology's own reckoning — which gives it a different character from the better-documented Confucian monuments in the old city. Visiting it as a contrast to the Confucian precision of the Temple and Mansion is worthwhile; the distance from the city walls makes it a natural bicycle trip. Entry is included in the Qufu combined ticket.