Ming Tombs (Ming Shishan Ling)

The Ming Tombs, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, are the most extensive imperial burial complex of China’s Ming Dynasty and a treasure trove of 15th-century art and architecture, and this tour is designed to help you deeply unlock the history of the Ming Dynasty and the stories behind these tombs. Your day will start with your guide and driver picking you up from your hotel; during the drive to the Ming Tombs, the guide will share interesting insights and knowledge about the Ming Dynasty, giving you a preliminary understanding of the era before you arrive. Upon arrival, your exploration will begin with the Sacred Road–also known as "the road leading to heaven," this path was once used for imperial processions to the tombs, and along it, you’ll see a row of exquisite stone statues; the guide will walk you through the stories and symbolic meanings behind each stone statue, letting you grasp the imperial etiquette and cultural connotations of the Ming Dynasty.

Dingling Underground Palace

After the Sacred Road, you’ll head to Dingling Tomb, the only underground imperial palace in the Ming Tombs open to the public; first, you’ll visit the museums on both sides of the tomb entrance, where you can view cultural relics unearthed from Dingling, such as imperial costumes and daily utensils, and then follow the guide down into the underground palace – here, you’ll see the original burial chambers, the stone coffins of Emperor Wanli and his two empresses, and gain a close-up understanding of the Ming Dynasty’s imperial funeral system.