The Ming Tombs, located in a picturesque valley of rolling hills and orchards north of urban Beijing, were built by Ming emperors ( the Ming Dynasty lasted 276 years from 1368 to 1644) in an attempt to achieve a swift transition to the afterlife. Thirteen emperors, 23 empresses, and many imperial concubines, princes and princesses were buried in the tombs in simple but stately chambers. An impressive marble archway and a seven-kilometer road, known as the Sacred Way, show the way to the burial complex. Sculpted guards, a set of 12 animals, line the road.
The first tombs were uncovered in 1958; in 2003, the site was recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Address: South of TIanshouhan, 50 km northwest of Beijing, Changping District
Time: 8 a.m - 5 p.m ( April 1- October 31)
Time: 8:30 a.m - 4:30 p.m (November 1- March 31)
Ticket: Changling Tomb: 45 yuan (April 1- October 31)
Ticket: Dingling Tomb: 56 yuan (April 1- October 31)
Ticket: Zhongling Tomb: 30 yuan (April 1- October 31)
Ticket: Sacred Path: 30 yuan (April 1- October 31)
Transport: take 919 from Deshengmen Long Distance Bus Station, 500 meters east of Jishuitan Subway Station. Arrival at Changping North Station and take 314 to Dingling Tomb, Changling Tomb, Sacred Path.

Dingling: Tomb of the 13th Emperor Wanli and his two empresses, Dingling is the only fully excavated underground palace tomb, a labyrinthine complex of great halls. The coffins of the emperor and his empresses can be found in the largest hall at the rear. The Dingling Museum houses some enchanting pieces: the Phoenix and Dragon Crowns worn by the emperor and his empresses, the emperor’s Ceremonial Dress and Hundred-children Gown.
Open time: 8:30am-6pm
Ticket: RMB 60 (Apr 1 – Oct. 31), RMB 45 (Nov. 1 – Mar. 31), Half price for students

Zhaoling: While lacking the “wow factor” of Dingling and Changling, Zhaoling was built for Emperor Longqing and his three empresses.
Open time: 8am-5:30pm
Ticket: RMB 30 (Apr 1 – Oct. 31), RMB 20 (Nov. 1 – Mar. 31), Half price for students

Changling: Far outdoing his predecessors and successors, Emperor Yongle was the proud builder of not only the Forbidden City but also of the largest of the Ming Tombs, Changling. The ground structure, Ling’en Hall, the same size as the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, is open the public, showing off impressive marble floors and sandalwood columns.
Open time: 8am-5:30pm
Ticket: RMB 45 (Apr 1 – Oct. 31), RMB 30 (Nov. 1 – Mar. 31), Half price for students
Sacred Way: The Sacred Way, a 7-km-long path leading to the Ming Tombs, begins with the biggest and perfectly preserved archway in China. Made of marble and erected in 1540, the archway is a demonstration of the triumphs of Chinese architecture at the time. The most impressive is a collection of 24 stone animals and 12 stone civil and military officials guarding on both sides along the way.
Open time: 8:30am-6pm
Ticket: RMB 30 (Apr 1 – Oct. 31), RMB 20 (Nov. 1 – Mar. 31), Half price for students

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