Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs, located in a picturesque valley of rolling hills and orchards north of urban Beijing, were built by Ming emperors in an attempt to achieve a swift transition to the afterlife. Thirteen emperors, 23 empresses, and many imperial concubines, princes and princesses were buried in the tombs in simple but stately chambers.

The Ming Dynasty lasted 276 years from 1368 to 1644. In 1407, when Empress Xu died, the Emperor Yongle decided to bury her in Beijing. After serious consideration of fengshui principles, the present site was chosen with hills surrounding on three sides; the Heavenly Longevity Hill screening to the north with Dragon Hill to the east and Tiger Hill to the west, standing like two generals guarding the tomb's gateway.

In 1409, the construction of Empress Xu's tomb (Changling) began with the whole process taking four years. Thirteen other emperors?tombs took more than 200 years to complete and were scattered over a 40-square-kilometre area.

An impressive marble archway and a seven-kilometre road, known as the Sacred Way, show the way to the burial complex. Sculpted "guards," a set of 12 animals, line the road.

The first tombs were uncovered in 1958; in 2003, the site was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

South of Tianshoushan, 50 km northwest of Beijing, Changping District 

+86 10 6076 1148, 6076 1422           

8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Changling Tomb: 45 yuan (April 1-October 31)

Dingling Tomb: 60 yuan (April 1-October 31) 

Zhaoling Tomb: 30 yuan (April 1-October 31)

Sacred Path: 30 yuan (April 1-October 31)