50 kilometers northwest from Beijing City lies the Ming Tombs - the general name given to the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the many emperors. Because of its long history, palatial and integrated architecture, the site has a high cultural and historic value. The layout and arrangement of all thirteen mausoleums are very similar but vary in size as well as in the complexity of their structures. 
Map of Ming Tombs
It was originally built only as Changling, the tomb of Emperor Zhu Di and his empresses. This is the most magnificent of the tombs. The succeeding twelve emperors had their tombs built around Changling.
Only the Changling and Dingling tombs are open to the public. Changling, the chief of the Ming Tombs, is the largest in scale and is completely preserved. The total internal area of the main building is 1956 square meters. There are 32 huge posts, and the largest measures about 14 meters in height.It inhumes Emperor Zhudi, the fourth son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. Travel China Guide recommends the Ling'en Palace in its second yard as really deserving a visit. This is unique as it is the only huge palace made of camphor wood. It covers about 1956 square meters. The ceiling is colorfully painted and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts. The floor was decorated with gold bricks.
Unlike Changling, Dingling is under ground and about 27 meters deep. It is the mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Yijun, the thirteenth emperor who occupied the throne the longest during the Ming Dynasty, and his two empresses. The main features are the Stone Bridge, Soul Tower, Baocheng and the Underground Place, which was unearthed between 1956 and 1958. The entire palace is made of stone. The Soul Tower is symbolic of the whole of Dingling and it forms the entrance to the underground chambers. The yellow glazed tiles; eaves, archway, rafters and columns are all sculptured from stone, and colorfully painted. The entire construction is stable and beautiful!
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The front hall, considered the square of the Palace, has no building within it. No special artifacts remain in either the left and right palaces that are about 7 meters high, six meters wide, and 26 meters long. However, each has a centrally placed white marble coffin bed, the surface of which is covered with gold bricks. On each bed there is a square hole filled with loess. This is the so-called "Gold Well". A paved path leads to the central hall where there are three white marble thrones. Incense, candles and flowers were set in front of the thrones. Before each of them, there are glazed 'Five Offerings' and a blue china jar that would have been filled with sesame oil to be used for lamps. The rear hall is the main and biggest part of the Palace. The coffins of Emperor Zhu Yijun and his two empresses are in this palace. There are also some precious items displayed with these coffins; among them is the gold imperial crown, one of the world's most rare treasures.
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| Admission Fee: | Ming Changling Tomb: CNY 30 (Nov.1 to Mar. 31); CNY 45 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31) Ming Dingling Tomb: CNY40 (Nov.1 to Mar. 31); CNY 60 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31) Ming Zhaoling Tombe: CNY20 (Nov.1 to Mar. 31); CNY 30 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31) |
| Opening Hours: | Ming Changling Tomb: 08:30 to 17:30 Ming Dingling Tomb: 08:30 to 18:00 Ming Zhaoling Tomb (8:30 - 17:30) Stop selling tickets about half a hours before the tombs are closed. In low season (Novermber 1 - March 31), opening hours and ticketing hours are half a hour ahead of schedule. |
| Nearby Attractions: | Yinshan Pagoda Forest (Hours: 7:00 - 17:30; Ticket: CNY 25) Juyongguan Pass (Hours: 7:30 - 16:30: Ticket: CNY35/40) Sacred Way (Hours: 8:30 - 18:00; Ticket: CNY20/30) |
| Transportation: | 1. Take bus 345 (快), 919 (支) 1 at De Sheng Men Xi Station, get off at Chang Ping Dong Guan Station, and take bus 314, Changping 23 to Ming Dingling Tomb Station or Changling Tomb Station. 2. Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantongyuan Bei, get off the subway station and shift to bus Changping 23 to Ming Zhaoling. |
Surrounding Scenic Spots: Badaling Great Wall Sacred Way
How to get to Badaling Great Wall from Ming Tombs: Take bus no.314 at Dingling Tomb or Changling Tomb, get off at Ming Huang La Xiang Gong Station (The Ming Dynasty Wax Museum), take bus no.919 (慢) at the South Gate of The Ming Dynasty Wax Museum, and get off at Badaling Great Wall. 
Beijing Bus / Subway Search
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Ming Tombs Pictures
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Q & A on Ming Tombs
1.
Jul. 26,2010 09:36 Reply
Ms.reimer(usa) said:
How do I go from Wangfujing to Ming Tomb and Badaling by subway or bus or combination of both?
Jul. 26,2010 20:35
Mr.David replied:
You can take subway Line 1 from Wangfujing and get off at Fuxingmen. Transfer subway line 2 and alight at Jishuitan.
Walk about 550 to Deshengmen and take bus 919 to Badaling.
Get off bus 919 at Changping and transfer 314, you will get to Ming Tomb.
Jul. 30,2010 08:56
Mr.sing replied:
Hey,
Beware of touts at Deshengmen Bus station. The fare to Badaling by 919(Express) is only RMB12 and RMB8 for 919(slow).I would suggets you to take the express.There are many buses with No. 919 to different parts of BJ. Please inquired at the counter before getting into the bus.
2.
Jun. 19,2010 19:26 Reply
Mr.Jairam(new zealand) said:
My understanding is that bus 919 goes from Deshengmen to Badaling - how do you get from Badaling to the Ming Tombs (Changling)
Jun. 20,2010 04:30
Mr.Harry replied:
Walk to the mountain back parking lot for bus no.919 fast which runs back to the downtown area and then get off at Xiguan Huandao. Afterwards, walk along the square at Xiguan until you reach the station for bus no.314, direct to the Ming Tombs. Or you can just take a taxi after you get off at Xiguan Huandao. It takes just the starting fare to reach there, or within twice of the starting fare to reach Dingling and Changling. Do not pay higher than that.
3.
Jun. 2,2010 04:55 Reply
Mr.paulina(Indonesia) said:
dear Ms. Lily
i plan to visit Mutianyu Great Wall and then head to Ming Tomb, kindly advise any available bus and its service hours.
Thank you
Jun. 3,2010 04:29
Ms.Lily replied:
Hi,there
Mutianyu Great Wall and the Ming Tombs are in two directions. It takes 2 to 2.5 hours to transfer between them. If you want to visit the Ming Tombs, you'd better choose Badaling Great Wall.
4.
May. 17,2010 19:55 Reply
Ms.Mayfair said:
Public bus service is now available between Deshengmen and the Ming Tombs. Tourist bus route 925 starts from Changling Scenic Area of the Ming Tombs to Deshengmen, passing 26 stations. The whole journey is about 45km. Buses from Changling to Deshengmen run from 06:00 to 18:00 everyday, and from Deshengmen to Changling run from 07:10 to 19:10. The interval is 30mins during peak hours
May. 17,2010 22:34
Mr.Frank replied:
That is just what i want to ask. Good news! So i can take bus route 925 back from Ming Tombs to Deshengmen.
May. 24,2010 02:34
Ms.Mayfair replied:
Yes, Frank. You take the newly opened bus route 925.
5.
Apr. 28,2010 22:20 Reply
Ms.Alias(Thailand) said:
Please advise me about route and bus.
I want to go to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs
At Badaling Great Wall, I think to spend half of day for this Great Wall.
At Ming Tombs, I want to visit Sacred Way.
Then I can't decide that I should visit the Ming Dynasty Wax Museum
or Dingling Tomb or Changling Tomb.
However I have only one day for Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs.
Note: My father and My mother are in this trip. My father is 60 years old.
Thank you
Apr. 28,2010 23:06
Mr.Davec replied:
Ms. Alias,
Actually, you can find bus that run from Badaling to Ming Tomb(Ming Dynasty Wax Museum). After you visit the wax museum, you may go to visit Dingling and Sacred Way.
May. 6,2010 02:30
Ms.Alias(Thailand) replied:
I can conclude that
I should take the bus no.919 (slow line) from Badaling Station and get off at Ming Huang La Xiang Gong Station (The Ming Dynasty Wax Museum) to visit Wax Museum and/or Sacred way.
Then, I can take bus no.314 at Nanxincun (around Scared Way) to Dingling Tomb.
When I visited Dingling Tomb, I can take no.314 back to Changpingdongguan and continue to no.345 back to Deshengmenxi.
Is it correct?
How far away from Wax museum to Sacred way?
and How can I go faster to Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest) from Dingling Tomb?
Thank you for all answers.
May. 8,2010 02:48
Mr.Sail replied:
Hi Alias,yes your route is correct.
Wax Museum is near the Scred Way. After visiting Dingling Tomb, you can take bus no. 314 to get off at Changpingdongguan and transfer to no.345, and then get off at Madianqiaonan. Here get across the road to take bus no.83 to the Bird's Nest.
BTW,Alias, are you sure to make all of these spots in one day? That will be very busy for you, especial the seniors. I recommend you not go to the Wax Museum, but you still need to start before 6:30 i'm afraid.
good luck!
May. 8,2010 08:39
Ms.Alias(Thailand) replied:
Thank you, Mr.Sail. Your comment was very helpful.