The Ming Tombs (明十三陵), known collectively as the burial site for thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty, cover an area of over 40 square kilometers. Construction began in May of the seventh year of the Yongle reign (1409) with Changling, and continued over 230 years until the final emperor Chongzhen was buried in Siling. In addition to the thirteen emperors’ tombs, the area includes seven tombs for Ming empresses, one tomb for a court eunuch, and several auxiliary structures such as palaces, shrines, and sacrificial halls. The currently open attractions in the scenic area include Changling, Dingling, Zhaoling, and the Sacred Way.
The Ming Dynasty adhered to the principle of “serving the dead as if they were alive,” believing that the souls of the deceased still had needs for food, clothing, and daily activities. Therefore, the thirteen imperial tombs were constructed to resemble palaces, showcasing the emperors’ revered status and the grand scale of their reign.
Travel Information about Ming Tombs
Ticket Prices
- Changling: Peak season ¥45, off-season ¥30
- Dingling: Peak season ¥60, off-season ¥40
- Zhaoling: Peak season ¥30, off-season ¥20
- Sacred Way: Peak season ¥30, off-season ¥20
- Yanshan Tower Forest: Peak season ¥20, off-season ¥15 (Off-season: November to March; Peak season: April to October)
Opening Hours
- Peak season: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Off-season: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location and how to get there
Location: Tianshou Mountain, Yanshan foothills, Changping District, Beijing
How to Get There:
- Subway: Take the Changping Line and get off at Ming Tombs Station (Exit B). Walk to the Sacred Way Stone Archway, then take bus Chang 67 to reach Dingling and Zhaoling.
- Driving: Take the Jingzang Expressway and Changchi Road to reach the Ming Tombs Scenic Area.
Attraction Ratings
- Cultural significance: ★★★★★
- Features: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Excitement: ★★
Useful Information
- Shopping: There are several shopping locations within the scenic area where you can purchase souvenirs. These include the Dingling Boutique Shopping Center on the south side of Dingling Square, the Changling Tourist Service Center on the east side of Changling Square, the Sacred Way Craft Shop in the middle of the Sacred Way, and the Juyong Pass Craft Shop.
- Rental Services: Each open scenic area of the Ming Tombs has a visitor service center offering rentals for strollers, wheelchairs, umbrellas, and walking sticks.
- Guided Tours: Automatic guide machines are available for rent at the guide stations of each attraction. Additionally, guided tour services are offered in Chinese and various foreign languages. Detailed information about these services can be found at the ticket offices, or you can inquire further at the visitor service centers.
Highlights of Ming Tombs
Sacred Way
The Sacred Way is the first attraction of the Ming Tombs, comprising the Stone Archway, the Great Red Gate, the Stele Pavilion, the Stone Statues, and the Dragon and Phoenix Gate. At the southernmost end stands the Stone Archway, the largest and oldest stone archway in China.
The Stone Statues begin from the two hexagonal stone columns north of the Stele Pavilion and extend to the Dragon and Phoenix Gate along the kilometer-long Sacred Way. Along this path, 24 stone animals and 12 stone figures are meticulously arranged. These sculptures are lifelike and finely carved, making them some of the most exquisite stone carvings found in ancient Chinese mausoleums and the most notable highlight of the Sacred Way.
Not far from the southern end of the Sacred Way is a remarkable stone archway made of white marble. It measures 28.86 meters wide and 14 meters high. The pillars are adorned with carvings of kylins, lions, dragons, and mythical creatures, while the cloud patterns carved on the upper beams are delicate and elegant. This archway is the largest and oldest of its kind in China and is definitely worth seeing.
Related Details:
The unique feature of the Ming Tombs is that they were the first to reflect the overall cohesiveness of an imperial mausoleum complex in China. While each emperor’s tomb has its own hall, Ming Tower, and Treasure City, the entire tomb area is connected by a 7-kilometer-long “Sacred Way,” with Changling’s Sacred Way acting as the main axis.
This main Sacred Way includes shared stone archways and stone carvings, and the burial sites of each tomb are arranged in a hierarchical order. This layout creates a tightly connected architectural ensemble, forming a unified and harmonious imperial mausoleum complex.
Changling Tomb
Changling Tomb is located on the southern slope of the main peak of Tianshou Mountain. Completed in the eleventh year of the Yongle reign (1413), it is the joint burial site of the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chengzu (Zhu Di), and Empress Xu (the first person to be buried in the Ming Tombs). Changling is the oldest and largest tomb among the Ming Tombs. The entire mausoleum is surrounded by a wall and divided into three courtyards, including the Tomb Gate, the Divine Storehouse, Lingxing Gate, Treasure City, and the Ming Tower. Beneath the mound in Treasure City lies the underground palace. The central door on the south side of Treasure City leads to the Ming Tower, where the plaque under the eaves reads “长陵.”
Related Details:
- In addition to the mausoleum itself, there are two other burial sites: the East Tomb and the West Tomb. The East Tomb is located south of Mantou Mountain in Deling, and the West Tomb is northwest of Dingling. These tombs contain the remains of 16 concubines who were buried alongside Zhu Di. Some believe these are the companion tombs of Emperor Chengzu’s concubines, Zhao Xian Guifei Wang and Zhao Shun Xianfei Yu. Due to their well-like shape, they are named East Well and West Well.
- In front of the Changling Tomb is the Ling’en Hall, which houses 12 golden-nanmu pillars. It is the largest existing nanmu hall in China.
Dingling Tomb
Dingling Tomb is located southwest of Changling at the foot of Dayu Mountain. It is the burial site of the thirteenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Shenzong (Zhu Yijun), and his two empresses, Empress Xiaoduan and Empress Xiaojing. The overall layout of the tomb complex is square in the front and round in the back. The main structures include the Tomb Gate, Ling’en Gate, Ling’en Hall, Ming Tower, Treasure City, Treasure Mound, and the underground palace, with the latter being the main part of the tomb located directly behind the Ming Tower.
The rear hall is the largest hall in the underground palace, measuring 30.1 meters long, 9.1 meters wide, and 9.5 meters high. The floor is paved with polished mottled stones. At the center of the hall are the coffins of Zhu Yijun and his two empresses, surrounded by jade items, meiping vases, and red lacquered wooden boxes filled with burial objects. The underground palace of Dingling is now open to visitors for tours.
Zhaoling Tomb
Zhaoling Tomb is located on the eastern slope of Dayu Mountain. It is the joint burial site of the twelfth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Muzong (Zhu Zaihou), and his three empresses. It is the first of the Ming Tombs to be restored on a large scale. The tomb complex covers an area of 35,000 square meters and includes intact structures such as the Ling’en Gate, Ling’en Hall and its east and west annex halls, the square city wall, the Ming Tower, and the Treasure Mound.
In front of the Ling’en Gate within the tomb, there is a stele pavilion housing a blank stele, which is carried by a stone tortoise. The blank stele likely symbolizes the difficulty in evaluating the emperor’s merits and faults. Many visitors like to touch the stone tortoise when they visit the blank stele. There is a popular saying, “Touch the tortoise’s head, and you’ll never worry; touch the tortoise’s back, and you’ll never get sick.” Though it’s just a folk saying, it might be worth a try.
Who is Emperor Muzong
Emperor Muzong, whose reign title was Longqing (1537-1572), showed little interest in political affairs. He reigned for six years but never publicly expressed his political views. However, he did not oppose the suggestions and actions of his ministers. One notable example is the “Longqing Peace Agreement” in 1571, which, supported by his ministers, led to over twenty years of peace between the Central Plains and various Mongol tribes.
Yinshan Talin (Silve Mountain Pagoda Forest)
Yinshan Talin, also known as Iron Wall Silver Mountain, is located in the eastern part of the Badaling-Ming Tombs Scenic Area. Yinshan gets its name from the winter scene where “layers of ice and snow make it appear white as silver,” and because “the base has stone cliffs that are all black,” it is called Iron Wall. Together, they are known as Iron Wall Silver Mountain. The mountain is composed of black granite, with stone cliffs that are all black. The peaks are tall and steep, and in winter, the deep snow covers the mountains, creating a striking contrast of black and white.
Iron Wall Silver Mountain is not only known for its picturesque scenery but also for its numerous ancient pagodas. The Liao Dynasty pagoda cluster on Yinshan is the largest existing collection of Liao pagodas in China. At the end of a winding path, there is a large cluster of pagodas, varying in height but arranged in a regular pattern and uniform structure. All the pagodas have an octagonal base, and their designs are exquisite. These pagodas have stood the test of time and are of great antiquity.
The pagoda cluster has a history of over 600 years, from the Jin and Yuan dynasties through the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present. It is a valuable heritage for the study of ancient Chinese Buddhism and brick-stone architecture. Over the 600-year history, more and more pagodas have been built, making Yinshan densely covered with pagodas. There is a saying among the locals, “The pagodas of Yinshan are countless,” highlighting the once-flourishing state of these Buddhist towers.
Food and Accommodation
Each scenic area within the Ming Tombs has restaurants conveniently located near the ticket offices, making it easy for visitors to find a place to eat. These locations are quite prominent. Additionally, there are places within the scenic areas that sell simple food items, though the taste is generally average, so it’s recommended to bring your own food.
For accommodation, there are several hotels available in Tailin Village within the Ming Tombs area and in the Juyongguan Great Wall Scenic Area. Alternatively, visitors can return to the city for overnight stays on the same day.