The Ming Tombs in Photos
Introduction to the Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs are located about fifty kilometers north of Beijing. This monument, also called the Thirteen Tombs, is one of the largest historical sites in the Beijing region. Thirteen Ming emperors rest here, including Xuande, Jiajing and Wanli. However, only three tombs are open to the public: Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling.
All the tombs were once protected by a 16 km wall and a garrison of thousands of men. A real village was formed due to the many events that took place throughout the year at the tombs. This complex complies with the rules of Chinese geomancy. The Yongle tomb, for example, is distinguished by a very large room whose roof is supported by 32 cedar pillars. The Wanli tomb is a real underground palace. It consists of 5 burial chambers located 30 meters deep and covering 1200 square meters.
It is more convenient to visit these tombs during a tour of the Great Wall, such as the Mutianyu section. It is a very popular place for Chinese tourists.
Practical information:
Allow 2 hours for the visit. Chinese name: Ming Shisan Ling – 明十三陵 Allow 2 hours by bus to get there. Entrance: a 135 yen pass gives you access to the entire site.
Schedules :
– From April to October: depending on the part of the site, opening is between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and closing between 5:00 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.
– From November to March: opening is at 8:30 a.m. and depending on the part of the site, closing is either at 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.