Death and the rituals that surround it have always played a major role in Chinese culture.

The intriguing lengths to which China’s emperors would go to try and ensure a smooth route into the afterlife are writ large at the extraordinary Ming Tombs outside Beijing, extravagant burial chambers which provided the final resting places for 13 emperors of that dynasty (1368-1644).

Chinese have always appreciated the cultural significance of these sites on which no expense was spared － and whose locations provide perfect examples of the now globally recognized concept of feng shui.

The importance of the tombs, another essential day trip for any serious visitor to Beijing, was this year also fully recognised by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee after it added two of them to the hugely prestigious World Heritage List.

The tombs are a shining example of the funerary architecture and culture that for centuries held such sway across China. The amazing stories which surround them － some unfortunate concubines, for example, would be buried alive with the remains of certain emperors after their passing － have passed into legend and forever secured the reputation of these atmospheric structures.

An impressive marble archway and a seven-kilometre road known as the Sacred Way herald the 40-square-kilometre area on which the tombs are found. In times gone by, officials would have to dismount at the Great Palace Gate. Continue along the road and you’ll find a “guard” comprised of a set of 12 animals.

Look closely and you’ll notice every other one is in a resting position. The story goes that this was to allow for a changing of the guard at midnight. Look beyond the stone animals and you’ll see another 12 figures, these statues of generals, ministers and officials, each of which can be told apart according to the headgear worn.

The figures lead you to the Lingxing Gate. The first of the tombs to be excavated and opened to the public was Dingling Tomb. This was home to Emperor Wanli. Records suggest that it took half a million workers six years to build the tomb according to his very specific requirements. It was fully uncovered by 1958 and now visitors are able to wander its underground passages and caverns, using their imaginations to ponder those remarkable times.

Ding Ling was followed by two others, Changling Tomb － the biggest of the three － and Zhaoling Tomb.

Wan Li is said to have given a party in the funeral chamber to celebrate its completion. No fewer than 26 trunks of treasure were recovered from these chambers. Some of the original funerary objects have been left on the site for visitors to admire, while others were replaced with copies and taken for display in Beijing.

Changling Tomb, resting place of Emperor Yongle, was started in 1409 and took 18 years to complete.

The beautiful surroundings in which the tombs are located make the area a popular day trip and a great site for a picnic.