The Ming Tombs are one of the great imperial burial grounds, and an under-visited counterpart to the palaces in the city. Thirteen of the sixteen Ming emperors were buried in a broad valley at the foot of the Tianshou mountains north of Beijing, chosen for its feng shui, and the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors usually walk the Sacred Way, a long ceremonial avenue lined with pairs of stone animals and ministers, then enter one or more of the tomb complexes. Changling, the tomb of the Yongle emperor who built the Forbidden City, is the largest, while Dingling, the tomb of the Wanli emperor, is the best known because its underground palace was excavated in the twentieth century and can be entered. The ticket we feature is an entrance ticket with optional guide and transfer, rated 5.0 from 12 reviews, which makes it a flexible way to see the tombs on your own timetable.
How to visit
The Ming Tombs lie roughly an hour north of the city centre, close to Badaling and Juyongguan, so they pair naturally with a Great Wall day. The valley is spread out and involves a lot of walking, so decide in advance which tomb or tombs to enter rather than trying to see everything. Many visitors choose the Sacred Way and one tomb, usually Dingling for the underground palace or Changling for the scale of the halls. The above-ground tourist routes are wheelchair accessible.
What to expect
Calm, open grounds rather than a showpiece palace. The stone figures along the Sacred Way are the highlight for many people, with camels, elephants, horses and mythical beasts standing in pairs, and the walk gives a sense of the ritual scale of an emperor's afterlife. At Dingling you descend into stone vaults that were opened by archaeologists, which feels very different from the gilded halls of the Forbidden City. Allow two to three hours for one tomb and the Sacred Way, and longer if you add a second.
Making the most of it
Wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and visit on a weekday if you can. Combine the tombs with Badaling or Juyongguan on the same day if you have a driver, and consider a guide, because the tombs have a lot of history that is easy to miss without context. If your time in Beijing is short, the Forbidden City and one Great Wall section come first, but history lovers will find the Ming Tombs a rich third day.
What to expect
The experience
A visit to the Ming imperial burial ground: a walk along the Sacred Way of stone guardians and a tour of one or more tomb complexes, with optional guide and transfer.
Best time
Spring and autumn on a weekday, when the grounds are comfortable for walking and quieter.
How long
Two to three hours for the Sacred Way and one tomb, longer with a second tomb.
Tips
Choose your tomb in advance, wear comfortable shoes, carry water and consider a guide for the history.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers who want to see the burial place of the emperors who built the Forbidden City.
- Families
- The open grounds suit children who like space and animals, though the walking distances are long.
- Couples
- A calm, atmospheric alternative to the busier palaces for couples who enjoy history.
- Pair with
- Badaling or Juyongguan on the same day, since all three lie in the same northern corridor.
- Time needed
- Half a day, or a full day combined with a Great Wall section.
Good questions
Who is buried at the Ming Tombs?+
Thirteen of the sixteen Ming emperors are buried in the valley, along with many of their empresses and consorts. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What is the Sacred Way?+
It is a long ceremonial avenue leading to the tombs, lined with pairs of stone animals and ministers that stand as guardians for the emperors.
Which tomb should I visit?+
Dingling is best known because you can enter its excavated underground palace, while Changling is the largest and shows the scale of the Ming halls. Many visitors choose the Sacred Way plus one of these.
How far are the Ming Tombs from Beijing?+
They lie roughly an hour north of the city centre, near the Badaling and Juyongguan sections of the Great Wall, so they combine easily into one day.
Is the site accessible?+
The above-ground tourist routes are described as wheelchair accessible, but the site is large and involves a lot of walking, so plan your route.
