Yangshi Lei's Last Work: The Tombs of Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci’an

In 1873, the Qing Dynasty empress dowagers Cixi and Ci’an ordered the construction of their tombs – and Lei Siqi, the sixth generation of Yangshi Lei royal architects, was seen as the perfect candidate for the job. Although in poor health, Lei insisted on personally overseeing every aspect of the project, in the hope of restoring his family to its former glory.