Ming Dynasty Tombs

By moofd

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The Ming Dynasty Tombs is actually a giant cemetery for the royals and a UNESCO site. It's park-like above ground, laid out according to Feng Shui principles and decorated with various animal and people statuary. Entering you walk down a road with gates to various tombs (?) on each side. Keep in mind, I'm talking of a long, several mile long road/complex. China's like Texas...they got the land so they use it.

What's strange about this Tomb and others in China, is that the government hasn't gotten around to really excavating. 13 emperors are buried in the area, yet only 3 are open to the public. The rest aren't excavated, at least recently. It's possible thieves looted the tombs long ago, no one knows. But it's interesting to go into one of the few open tombs and see how the Chinese buried their dead, as compared to other nations. And what's more intriguing is what's inside the other unopened tombs...

There's really not a whole lot to see inside the tomb (it's been emptied). The burial complex itself is kind of big to really take in at once.


North of Beijing, accessible by tour bus or road if you choose to drive.




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