Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs serve as the official burial ground for 13 of the 16 emperors of the Ming dynasty. Because of this, the site is known in Chinese as Shisanling, which translates to the Thirteen Tombs. Construction of the complex first began in the 15th century.

The Ming Tombs are located in the Changping District, situated just north of Beijing, China. The imperial mausoleums are strategically built into a valley surrounded by mountains. The site was chosen based on feng shui principles by the third Ming emperor, Yongle.

Yes, the Ming Tombs are a major tourist attraction and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. While thirteen emperors are buried there, only a few of the actual underground tombs have been excavated and opened to the public. The Dingling tomb is one of the most famous excavated sites visitors can enter.

Three Ming dynasty emperors are not buried at the Shisanling complex. The first emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, is buried in Nanjing, while the second emperor's remains were lost during a civil war. The seventh emperor, Jingtai, was denied a tomb in the valley and buried elsewhere near Beijing.