[World Heritage Site: Ming Tombs, Dingling] The only excavated underground palace

The Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty contain the tombs of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors (the 3rd to 17th emperors, excluding the 7th emperor; the 6th and 8th emperors are the same), and are registered as a World Heritage Site as the best-preserved and largest imperial tombs in the world. Of these, Changling, Dingling, and Zhaoling can be visited.

Dingling is the tomb of the 14th emperor Wanli (Zhu Yijun), who reigned for 48 years, the longest in the Ming Dynasty, but his lack of interest in politics and his extravagant lifestyle put a strain on the finances, and the enormous costs spent on building this tomb are said to have accelerated the decline of the Ming Dynasty.

Dingling is the only tomb that has been excavated, and an underground palace spreads 27 meters underground. It is divided into five rooms in total, but the ceiling is arched and there are no pillars supporting the ceiling. Over 3,000 cultural assets have been discovered. It is located about 50km away from the center of Beijing, so transportation is not very convenient, but it is a good idea to stop by on your way back from the Great Wall and Badaling.

Closed: No holidays
Opening hours: 8:30am-5pm
Price: 60 yuan

#Ming Tombs#Emperor Wanli#Dingling#Beijing#China#Great Wall
#Let's go to China

Post by kuuusuke | Apr 18, 2025