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Photo: The Ming Tombs (Thirteen Tombs) in
Beijing
In a small basin
with a circumference of 40 sq km, the Ming Tombs,
also known as the Thirteen Tombs,
are 50 km from the city proper of Beijing in
Changping District at the foot of Tianshou
Mountain.
Altogether 13 of the 16 Ming emperors, 23 empresses and many
imperial concubines, crown princes and
princesses were buried here. Two of the tombs, Changling
Mausoleum,
known for its grand architecture, and Dingling
Mausoleum are open to the public
and are surrounded by parking lots full of tour
buses while the Zhaoling Mausoleum are less
busier.
The most famous is Dingling Mausoleum, an underground
palace. Ming Tomb has now become a very famous
tourist attraction for travelers to Beijing.
The roads going to
the tombs is 7 km long called the 'Spirit Way'.
It begins with a triumphal arch and then goes
through the Great Palace Gate, where officials
once had to dismount, and passes a giant
tortoise-like animal (bixi), the largest
stele in the country, then followed by a row of
twelve set of stone animals.
Opening times:
8.30am to 5.00pm
Admission: 20
yuan for Changling Mausoleum, Dingling Mausoleun
and Zhaoling Mausoleum respectively
Location: In
Changping District, Beijing
Transport:
Visitors may get on bus No. 345 to get to
Dongguan bus stop in Changping and then transfer
to bus No. 314. It
can be reached by special tourist buses Nos. 1,
5 and 9.
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