Approximately 45 km from central Beijing, the Ming Tombs are situated in a picturesque valley in Changping District. Amidst the calm serenity of the mountainous region 13 Ming Emperors, 23 Empresses and several royal concubines are laid to rest. As a result of the traditional belief that despite physical death the soul of a person continues to exist along with mortal necessities, the structures of the tombs resemble Royal abodes. Great care was taken to ensure that the construction and the location of the mausoleums accorded with Chinese Fengshui which advocates complete harmony between buildings and the natural surroundings.
The tombs have successfully faced the onslaught of time, manifesting the high technical and aesthetic level achieved by ancient Chinese architecture. Although, greatly similar in design the 13 tombs vary in magnitude and intricacy. The largest is “Changling”, the vault of emperor Zhu Di. The other mausoleums which encircle it belong to subsequent rulers and are lesser in size. Only two of the tombs, the “Changling” and “Dingling” can be accessed by the public.
Changling has a well preserved interior of 1956 square metres. The second yard of Changling houses the large Ling'en Palace which has the distinction of being constructed in Camphor wood. The floor of this unique building is paved with golden bricks while the ceiling is decorated in bright colours. In contrast, “Dangling” is a subterranean vault reaching a depth of 27 m. Constructed completely in stone; the underground palace is the resting place of Emperor Zhu Yijun, the longest ruler of the Ming Dynasty. The floors are adorned by glazed tiles while the pillars and archways are painted in vivid colours, ensuring the dazzling splendour of Chinese royalty even in death.
A visit to the beautiful environs of the Ming Tombs is a lesson in harmonious existence with nature and the richness of Chinese traditions. In 2003, the Ming Tombs in Beijing was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is home to several World Heritage Sites, making a stay in the metropolis an interesting journey through historical Chinese achievements. The Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing is situated in the heart of the city within easy reach of many of these important places.