Dingling — Attraction in Beijing

13 emperors of the ming dynasty buried across this 80 kilometre square land area. During March, the surrounding was quiet, we came after our visit to the great wall it was already 3.30pm and there was no queue. Visitors above 60 years of age get free entry, for us younger peeps it was just 30 yuan.

The english explanation recorders were not available but thankfully we bumped into a couple who had an english speaking guide so we did eavesdrop quite a bit. It is a long walk down the stairs to the tomb, not at all wheelchair friendly and possibly challenging for the elderly. Once you get down it is quite a short and small walk around. Most areas are restricted and you are only allowed in the chamber where the emperor and his empresses were buried.

Strongly recommend reading up on the history before visiting so that everything becomes more meaningful. There are also two exhibitions to the side of the pavilion, exhibiting items found (or in some cases, replicas) from the tomb and another with an informative video on the history and excavation process. Unfortunately the video is in Chinese, so fellow travelers who do not understand the language will be missing out on this.

Personally, i felt like this was not worth the 40 minutes drive from the Badaling Great Wall on the following basis: The area in which you are allowed are rather small; Most of the items on display are replicas. This is because when this place was first excavated, they lacked proper technique in preserving the items - most of the scrolls, fabric basically deteriorated upon excavation. This masoleum was excavated as a trial before proceeding to excavate ChangLing. But due to their apparent inability and failure to preserve and protect the excavated, the government has now placed stops on all excavation projects unless for rescue purposes. According to local folklore, many who were involved in the excavation of this masoleum were met with freak accidents, illness and sudden death during and after the completion of this project. If you believe in the paranormal, perhaps it was on purpose that the excavation of DingLing went so badly such that nobody would think of disturbing the rest? During the cultural revolution, the red army also apparently dragged out the remains of the Emperor and Emperess and destroyed it, alongside with some of the structures.

There's not much left of the original to be seen, but it is meaningful when you read about the history and sad how the Royals did not even get to rest in peace in...

In the realm of the ancients, where the whispers of the wind carried the secrets of the gods, there existed a sacred place of eternal rest. This was Dingling, the tomb of the venerable Xuande Emperor, Zhu Zhanji, a ruler of unparalleled wisdom and justice.

Legend has it that the emperor's spirit, accompanied by the celestial guardians of the Ming Dynasty, descended upon the mortal realm to select a site for his eternal slumber. And thus, the gods guided him to a location where the dragon's pulse, the vital energy of the land, converged in harmony.

As the emperor's mortal form returned to the earth, his spirit merged with the essence of the land, imbuing Dingling with an aura of serenity and majesty. The tomb's architecture, a symphony of stone, brick, and tile, was said to be inspired by the celestial music of the heavens.

Within the tomb's sacred precincts, the emperor's spirit was said to reside, surrounded by the loyal attendants of the afterlife, who ensured his comfort and tranquility. And as the ages passed, Dingling remained a testament to the enduring legacy of the Xuande Emperor, a shining beacon of wisdom, justice, and...

Interesting but overall worth a visit on the way to the great wall.- not suitable for those with mobility difficulties - there are quite a few steps both down into the tomb and also back out again.

It has been heavily restored and unfortunately, the antiquities were lost during the cultural revolution so copies have been replaced but it is interesting to see and the remaining carvings and marbles thrones are beautiful as is the view across the valley from from the upright seal of the phoenix and dragon with the burning pearl.

The fruit sellers out front were playing games with pricing - if you buy anything, make sure that you get the FULL price for everything before you hand them any money. They may be telling you the price of a single item while indicating that the price is inclusive only to reneg when you hand them money.

Getting your money back is difficult (but not...