The Ming Tombs—The Ming Tomb is the best-preserved imperial mausoleum structure buried most emperors. Thirteen of the sixteen Ming emperors are buried in this picturesque valley with orchards and rolling hills.

Changling Tomb

Changling Tomb aaaaChangling is the tomb of emperor Yongle (reigned 1403-1424), the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty whose personal name was Zhu Di, and of his empress. Built in 1413, the mausoleum extends over an area of 100,000 square metres. The soul tower, which tells people whose tomb it is, rests on a circular wall called the "city of treasures" which surrounds the burial mound. The "city of treasures" at Changling has a length of more than a kilometre.

Dingling Tomb

Dingling Tomb aaaaThe Dingling Tomb is the tomb of Emperor Wanli (reigned 1573-1619), the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty, whose personal name was Zhu Yijun, and of his two empresses, Xiao Duan and Xiao Jing. The tomb was completed in six years (1584-1590), it occupies a total area of 1,195 square meters at the foot of Dayu Mountain southwest of the Changling Tomb.

Zhaoling Tomb

Zhaoling Tomb aaaaBeijing's Zhaoling,the tomb of Longqing,The 12th emperor of the Ming Dyuasty,Though the Zhaoling mausoleum does not look as big as Changling and Dingling,it was surely constructed very elegantly.
aaaaThe reign of Emperor Longqing wasn't very long.

Yongling Tomb

aaaaYongling, built in 1536, is the tomb for Emperor Shizong, Zhu Houcong (1507-1566). He stayed in power for 45 years.

Maoling Tomb

Maoling Tomb aaaEmperor Xianzong, Zhu Jianshen, and his three empresses are entombed within Maoling. Zhu Jianshen (1447-1487) was the first son of Emperor Yingzong. He stayed in power for 22 years.

Sacred Way

aaaaThe Sacred Way inside the gate of the Ming Tomb is lined with 18 pairs of stone human figures and animals. These include four each of three types of officials: civil, military and meritorious officials, symbolizing those who assist the emperor in the administration of the state, plus four each of six iypes of animals: lion, griffin, camel, elephant, unicorn and horse.

Stone Archway

aaaaThe stone archway at the southern end of the Sacred Way, built in 1540, is 14 metres high and 19 metres wide, and is decorated with designs of clouds, waves and divine animals. Well-proportioned and finely carved, the archway is one of the best preserved specimens of its kink in the Ming Dynasty. It is also the largest ancient stone archway in China.