The Ming Tombs

The stone stele in the tablet house (Photo credit: China Foto Press)Among the mausoleums, the largest is the Chang Mausoleum while the smallest is the Si Mausoleum, but all of them were built in roughly the same way. They form a group, yet each of them stands alone as an independent unit. Before each tomb there is a stone stele, and each mausoleum is enclosed with a wall. Along the central axis of each one stand the following structures: the gate, Ling'en Gate, Ling'en Hall, Lingxing Gate, stone wugong, Ming Tower. The Ming Tower houses a stele inscribed with the posthumous title and honorary title of the emperors. Behind the tower is Treasure Town filled with loess. Next is the shrine of the empress. Each mausoleum has a room for eunuchs looking after it, a garden for planting vegetables and fruits for sacrifice, and was guarded by troops stationed in Changping.

The Ming Tombs are characterized by its large size, complete system, and intact preservation. As the representative of ancient Chinese imperial mausoleums, they reflect the richness of traditional Chinese culture, with very high historic and cultural value. As part of the age-old Chinese culture, they adorn the land of Beijing like pearls. Entirely forbidden in the past, they are now a tourist attraction famous at home and abroad. Currently four spots are officially opened to the public, namely the Ding Mausoleum, the Chang Mausoleum, the Zhao Mausoleum and the passages to the tombs.

Preservation Efforts: Among UNESCO World Heritage sites are China's many imperial tombs. Under the restoration programs, the number of imperial tombs which have undergone large-scale renovations has reached double digits.

(Credit: Beijing Tourism Administration. Click here for further information.)