Ming Tombs, Beijing

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A few kilometers out of the city, this is a burial complex combining many elements and details, according to Feng Shui principles.

The sacred way, described in other tips lead to the burial area, where we visited Dingling, one of the imperial tombs. Well, the tomb was perfect when found, but piled for years, and restricted by the Cultural Revolution, it suffered a lot, however, the remains still justify the half day visit.

A paved path leads to the central hall where there are three white marble thrones. Incense, candles and flowers were set in front of the thrones.

Before each of them, there are glazed 'Five Offerings' and a blue china jar that would have been filled with sesame oil to be used for lamps. Expecting for great sensations at the end everything is seen as common stuff.

The rear hall is the main and biggest part of the Palace. The coffins of Emperor Zhu Yijun and his two empresses are in this palace.

There are also some precious items displayed with these coffins, including the gold imperial crown, but pressed to rush by the crowds you'll only may have a glance of them.

Dingling is under ground and about 27 meters deep. It is the mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Yijun, the thirteenth emperor who occupied the throne the longest during the Ming Dynasty, and his two empresses.

The main features are the Stone Bridge, Soul Tower, Baocheng and the Underground Place, which was unearthed between 1956 and 1958. The entire palace is made of stone. The Soul Tower is symbolic of the whole of Dingling and it forms the entrance to the underground chambers

Among the many Sacred Ways, the one of Ming Tombs' is best preserved and complete. The Sacred Way starts with a huge stone memorial archway lying at the front of the area.

Constructed in 1540, during the Ming Dynasty, this archway is the earliest and biggest stone archway existing in China today

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The Sacred Way is marked by one Roof Pillars on each side of the road, whose surfaces are carved with the cloud design, and tops are shaped like a rounded cylinder, and lined with figures of animals and warriors.

The Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion shows inside a 50-ton tortoise.

A white marble pillar is placed at each corner with, in the top, a mythical beast facing either inward or outward.

I read that they "express hope that the emperor will neither cling to the palace nor forget to return to the Palace to handle state affairs". Ok, I believe it!

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One of the most remarkable aspects of the burial sites is the Sacred Way, a long straight road that was supposed to be used by the Emperor, in his way back to Heaven.

Common in most Imperial graveyards, the Ming Tomb is the best preserved, standing about 50 Km from Beijing.

After the entrance, the road is lined with statues, all of them with a special meaning. First we pass by a set of 24 animals (lion, camel, elephant, unicorn, qilin and horse – 4 of each).

At the end of the road 12 human figures (generals and nobles) and… it should be the Emperor’s tomb, but there was a break due to posterior construction, and it will take 10 minutes to cover the distance by bus.