Emperor Zhengde's Southern Tour

Timeline

1. 1517Beijing · BeijingIn the ninth month of Zhengde 12, Wuzong Zhu Houzhao departed the capital on a southern tour; court officials repeatedly submitted memorials remonstrating without success, and the imperial carriage traveled south through Zhending and Baoding.
2. 1517Nanjing · JiangsuThe imperial carriage arrived at Nanjing, where the Zhengde Emperor resided in the secondary capital, handling military affairs in the capacity of Grand General and ordering a search for beauties in Jiangnan, leaving the secondary capital officials exhausted by the demands.
3. 1517–1518Suzhou Prefecture · JiangsuThe Zhengde Emperor set out from Nanjing to tour wealthy places such as Suzhou and Hangzhou, indulging in hunting and pleasure and conscripting laborers; the people of Jiangnan could no longer bear the disturbances, and criticism in court and country grew ever greater.