Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs are the collective name for the tombs of thirteen Ming Dynasty emperors and empresses. They are located in a small basin at the foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping County, about 44 km northwest of Beijing, covering an area of about 40 square kilometers. Driving directly from Deshengmen, head north through Shahe and Changping to reach the Ming Tombs. The architectural layout and regulations of the thirteen tombs are basically the same, with only slight differences in size and complexity. Among them, the Changling Tomb, where Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di is buried, is the largest of the thirteen tombs. Changling Tomb was built in the eleventh year of Yongle (1413) and its main buildings include the Ling'en Hall, Ming Tower, and Treasure Mound. The Ling'en Hall is the largest existing wooden structure in China. The Dingling Tomb is the resting place of Emperor Shenzong Zhu Yijun and is the only excavated tomb among the thirteen tombs. The famous underground palace of the Ming Tombs is located here. Dingling Tomb was built in the twelfth year of Wanli (1584) on a grand scale, with more than 30,000 soldiers and craftsmen employed in its construction. The excavation of the underground palace unearthed a large number of precious cultural relics, which have become valuable materials for studying the history of the Ming Dynasty. Another Ming Tomb, the Yongling Tomb, is the mausoleum of Emperor Shizong Zhu Houcong. Although its scale is smaller than that of Changling Tomb, its structure is exquisite and detailed. Its main building, the Ming Tower, is the crown jewel of the thirteen tombs' architecture. In addition to the above-mentioned attractions, the Ming Tombs also feature the famous Stone Archway (the largest ancient stone archway in China) and the exquisitely shaped and lifelike stone statues.