Yu dies, according to historical texts, at Mount Kuaiji (south of present day Shaoxing) while on a hunting tour on the southern frontier of his empire, and is buried here, where a mausoleum is built in his honor.

Instead of passing power to the person deemed most capable of rulership, Yu had passed power to his son, Qi, setting the precedence for dynastic rule.

The Xia Dynasty thus begins a period of family or clan control.