HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsMing Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling)
China
After the Great Wall, we will visit the Ming Tombs. There are three parts are opened to public, the Sacred Way, Changling Tomb and Dingling Tomb. The Sacred Way is the first attraction of Ming Tombs,which is a main way leading to the thirteen imperial tombs inside the scenic area. The two lines of stone lifelike sculptures (12 beasts and 6 officials) on both sides are the highlight of the Sacred Way which are quite popular with visitors. Among the Ming Tombs,Changling is the largest, earliest and most magnificent with best preserved found constructions. Dingling is the only one that the underground palace was excavated. You will visit one of them based on your interests. After finishing your trip to Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling)
Welcome to the Ming Tombs, or Ming Shishan Ling—the 'Thirteen Tombs of the Ming.' We are standing in a vast imperial necropolis that covers some 40 square kilometers in the Changping District, about 50 kilometers north of central…
Listen in the app2The Stone Memorial Arch — The Grand Entry
The journey into the Ming Tombs begins at the Stone Memorial Arch, the 'Pai Lou'. Built in 1540, this is the largest and most magnificent stone arch in China. …
Listen in the app3The Great Palace Gate — The Secret Way
Continuing north, we reach the Great Palace Gate, or 'Da Gong Men'. This was the actual gate to the enclosure of the tomb area. …
Listen in the app4The Sacred Way — The Stone Statues
The most famous part of the Ming Tombs is the Sacred Way, specifically the section lined with 12 pairs of stone animals and 6 pairs of stone officials. These statues are more than just decoration; they are symbolic guardians for…
Listen in the app5Changling — The Mother Tomb
Changling is the first and largest of the thirteen tombs, belonging to the Yongle Emperor, the founder of the site. It serves as the architectural template for all the other tombs. …
Listen in the app6Feng Shui — The Armchair Mountain
To truly appreciate the Ming Tombs, you must look at the horizon. The principles of 'Feng Shui' or 'Wind and Water' are what dictated the placement of every stone in this valley. …
Listen in the app7The Pavilion of the Divine Merit
On the Sacred Way, we encounter a massive square pavilion known as the Pavilion of the Divine Merit and Sage Virtue. Inside sits a giant stone tortoise, or 'bixi', carrying a 7-meter-high tablet. …
Listen in the app8Closing
Our journey through the Ming Tombs concludes here in the quiet valley of Tianshou Mountain. We have traveled the 7-kilometer Sacred Way, passed the watchful eyes of the stone guardians, and stood before the massive halls of…
Listen in the app
What is Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling)?
Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling) is a place in China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 40.2983, 116.2489 |
| Last updated |
