The thirteen impressive Ming Tombs celebrate the great emperors of the Ming dynasty as well as the rich Chinese culture that birthed them. Located 42km northwest of central Beijing on the southern slopes of Tianshou Mountain, these mausoleums are magnificent tributes to their creators. Emperor Zhu Di, the first of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) built the Changling Tomb and twelve other succeeding emperors also followed suit. According to Feng Shui principles, the arc-shaped area of 40 square miles was carefully selected to deflect the evil spirits and inauspicious winds from descending from the north. The tombs reside in a pristine valley of dark earth and serene waterways, which creates a restful calm and deep respect for the past age of this splendid dynasty.
From the first to the thirteenth emperor, great attention has been paid to ensure that the layout and design are in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment. The tombs are spaced out with distances ranging from half a kilometer to eight kilometers fanning out in an arch with the Changling Tomb at its centre. This august site is one of the best examples of preserved tombs in the region with the largest number of emperors buried at a single location. Built in ‘the unity of heaven and humanity’, the palatial architecture and the surrounding private courtyards of each of the mausoleums create a sedate atmosphere that attracts the attention of scholars and tourists to its soil annually.
Leading up to the complex is the ‘Spirit Way’, a seven-kilometre road lined with guardian officials and animals. This striking pathway begins with the ‘Great Red Gate’, one of the largest stone archways found in China that was built in 1540. The 50-ton tortoise-shaped dragon beast, the mythical creatures and the Huabiao (pillars of glory) that stand guard add an element of grandeur to some of the greatest rulers of the time. Only three tombs are open to the public: Changling, the largest and best preserved with its three courtyards and treasure city; Dingling, the tomb of Emperor Zhu Yijun in 1590 that unearthed precious relics and the underground stone palace; and Zhaoling, resting ground of the twelfth emperor Zhu Zaihou. The other ten tombs are not open to the public and after the destruction of most of the relics found at the Dingling tomb during the Cultural Revolution, tombs are not to be opened even if the entrance is revealed unless for rescue purposes.
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