Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Beijing

32 ❯❯ Top 10 Beijing Highlights

Ming Tombs

The resting place for 13 of the 16 Ming-dynasty (1368–1644)
emperors, this is China’s finest example of imperial funerary
architecture. The site was chosen because of its auspicious feng shui
alignment: a ridge of mountains to the north cradles the tombs on
three sides, protecting the dead from the evil spirits carried on the
north wind. The tombs are spread over 15 square miles (40 sq km).
Three (Chang Ling, Ding Ling, and Zhao Ling) have been restored
and are always busy. Unrestored, the rest are open but quiet.

Stele Pavilion
Spirit Tower
1 3
Rising up from the
At the tunnel-like
arch of the Stele Pavilion, third courtyard of the
the largest stele in China Chang Ling complex,
projects from the shell the tower marks the
of a giant bixi (dragon- entrance to the burial
tortoise) and bears the chamber. This takes
names of the emperors the form of an earthen
buried at the site. tumulus girdled by a wall.

Ming Tombs
S308 7 5 3
S212
Memorial Arch
2
Marking the entrance to the site is a five-arched 4
S212 marble gate (above) built in 1540. At 40 ft (12 m) high 0
6
G110
and more than 92 ft (28 m) wide, it is the largest of 9
Ming Tombs
Reservoir its kind in China, and boasts beautiful carvings.
NEED TO KNOW
X037 • The Ming Tombs are
most conveniently seen as
30 miles (45 km) NW 8
of Beijing • 6076 1424 part of a trip to the Great 1
• Changping subway Wall at Badaling. Many 2
to Nanshao, then bus hotels will arrange tours.
The government-
Ding Ling
67 to the tombs • www. 4
mingtombs.com operated Tour Bus 2 Burial
leaves regularly for the Chamber
Open Apr–Oct 8am– tombs and the Great
5:30pm daily; Nov–Mar Wall from just east of This is the only burial
8:30am–5pm daily Qian Men on Tian’an Men chamber to be excavated
and opened to the public.
Adm Spirit Way ¥30, Square every day from Visitors descend to a
Chang Ling ¥45 (¥30 off- 6:30am onward; the central throne room and
peak), Ding Ling ¥65 (¥45 fare is ¥50 per person. a rear annex with three
off-peak), Zhao Ling ¥30 • There are snack kiosks red-lacquer coffins,
(¥20 off-peak) at the site. belonging to Wanli and
his two wives.
Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Three-column, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.5)
032-033_Top_10_Beijing.indd 32 27/06/2017 14:32
Date 12th May 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm