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50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest from Beijing lies the Ming Tombs - the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the many emperors. The site was chosen by the third Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle (1402–1424), who moved the capital of China from Nanjing to the present location of Beijing. He is credited with envisioning the layout of the ancient city of Beijing as well as a number of landmarks and monuments located therein. After the construction of the Imperial Palace (the Forbidden City) in 1420, the Yongle Emperor selected his burial site and created his own mausoleum. Only the Changling and Dingling tombs are open to the public.
I visited the main tomb of Changling as part of a tour which also included the Great Wall of China at Badaling for RMB130 that my hotel (a Home Inn - see my Beijing accommodation tips) had at their reception. This also included lunch, transport, a visit to a duck factory shop and a jade factory shop and a tour guide (although it was in Chinese with other Chinese tourists).
Open: 8.30am-5.30pm. Admission: RMB45.
Updated Aug 9, 2009
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This tower lies in front of the burial tomb mound of the Emperor Yongle. It was once a wooden-framed building during the Ming dynasty but was reconstructed to its present style in 1787. There is a sacred stele inside the tower that was re-erected in 1605 after the tower was struck by lightning. It is inscribed with the words "Mausoleum of Emperor Chengzu" - the name given to the Yongle Emperor after becoming emperor following a civil war.
Written Aug 9, 2009
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Artefacts from the underground tomb of Emperor Wanli (1563-1620) at Ding Ling, are on display inside the Hall of Eminent Favour, within Changling. Exhibits include many gold and silver vessels, gold ingots and a replica of Emperor Wanli's golden crown that is decorated with two dragons.
Written Aug 9, 2009
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These burners were used to burn scriptures and sacred silk materials after sacrificial rites during the Ming dynasty. The single-eaved burners are composed of glazed files and they stand on a base with Buddhist carvings.
Written Aug 9, 2009
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The hall is supported by 60 pillars made of nanmu (phoebe nanmu). The 32 inside the hall are over 12 meters high and the four in the innermost are the biggest, each being 14.3 meters high and 1.17 meters in diameter, so big that two men can not put their arms around it. They were made out of single tree trunks, rarely seen in the world. Nothing was painted inside the hall to maintain its natural colour. The hall is the largest and the most magnificent building of nanmu wood that still exists in China.
Written Aug 9, 2009
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The Yongle Emperor, his wife, and 16 concubines are thought to be buried in the burial mound but it has never been excavated.
Written Aug 9, 2009
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This gate is also called Two-Pillar Gate. It is said that this kind of architectural style originated in the Han dynasty, which served to pray for good harvests.
Updated Aug 9, 2009
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This gate is also called Two-Pillar Gate. It is said that this kind of architectural style originated in the Han dynasty, which served to pray for good...
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50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest from Beijing lies the Ming Tombs - the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The mausoleums have been perfectly...
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