Ming Tombs, Imperial Mausoleums, Beijing Travel

Last Update : 2006-10-10 17:56:19: Located at the foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of the city area of Beijing, Ming Tombs is actually a range of imperial mausoleum constructions of thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Surrounded by lofty mountain ranges, the whole scenic area covers an area of 120 square kilometers (46 square miles) and is reputed to be the best preserved tomb architecture of its kind in China.
Last Update : 2006-10-10 17:56:32: The thirteen mausoleums are arranged on a similar layout and vary in size. Of these, Changling, the mausoleum of the third Ming emperor Zhu Di, is the grandest with a splendid palace hall of Lingendian, similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Forbidden City. It is said that just transporting the precious wood used to construct this tomb was five years' work for thousands of workers.
Last Update : 2006-10-10 18:00:50: In addition, the magnificent underground palace of Dingling is another must for tourists. The underground palace has five great chambers which house the emperor's coffin and that of his two empresses. A collection of over 3,000 burial relics have been excavated. Among them, a pair of gold crowns embedded with precious pearls and gems are incredible. Tourists can appreciate the relic exhibitions in a museum nearby.

Admission Fee:	Changling Tomb: CNY 30 (Nov.1 to Mar. 31) CNY 45 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31)
Admission Fee:	Dingling Tomb: CNY40 (Nov.1 to Mar. 31) CNY 60 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31)
Opening Hours:	Changling Tomb: 08:30 to 17:30
Opening Hours:	Dingling Tomb: 08:30 to 18:00
Recommended Time for a Visit:	Two hours
Tourist Bus Route:	1, 2, 3, 4, 5