Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum — Attraction in Nanjing City

This is the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, Ming dynasty's first emperor and founder as well. If you happens to visit the tomb of other Ming emperor in Beijing, you may be wondering why this one is much smaller and it's in the South. Well, for a bit of history lesson, originally Ming's capital was in Nanjing but from the 3rd. emperor Zhu Di on, there was a civil war between Zhu Yuanzhang's grand son (the 2nd. emperor) and Zhu Di who is Yuanzhang's 4th. son. As a result, Zhu Di won and rearranged the capital to Beijing. During Zhu Di's incumbency, Ming dynasty was at its peak, that's why from him on all of the Ming emperors' tomb is located in Beijing and scale-wise...

The entire compound is really big and is quite a majestic tomb. There are a bunch of animal statues that surround the park that are interesting to look at. Depending on the time of the year that you visit the place, the crowd and the scenery may vary.

I was there in december when it was starting to turn cold in nanjing. The flowers were already gone, but with it the crowd as well.

It is a nice long walk all the way of to the tomb.

Dont expect to see anything spectacular though, as it is just a...

明孝陵是明代開國皇帝朱元璋和皇后馬氏的合葬陵墓。因皇后諡「孝慈」，故名孝陵。作為中國明陵之首的明孝陵壯觀宏偉，代表了明初建築和石刻藝術的最高成就 歷史記載：「馬皇后本是宿州人，父母名字已失傳，史書僅作馬公、鄭媼。馬公早逝，因生前與郭子興是莫逆之交，故此馬氏自幼養育郭子興府內，認郭子興為義父。初，朱元璋因貧窮流離，投奔郭子興帳下，立有功，郭子興便把自己的養女馬氏嫁給他為妻馬皇后本是宿州人，父母名字已失傳，史書僅作馬公、鄭媼。馬公早逝，因生前與郭子興是莫逆之交，故此馬氏自幼養育郭子興府內，認郭子興為義父。初，朱元璋因貧窮流離，投奔郭子興帳下，立有功，郭子興便把自己的養女馬氏嫁給他為妻 馬氏隨朱元璋征戰數十年，夫妻共患難，感情深厚。朱元璋進位為帝的同一天（洪武元年正月初四，1368年1月23日）即冊封結髮之妻馬氏為皇后，也同時封她所生的嫡長子朱標為皇太子。洪武二年，追封岳父馬公為徐王，岳母鄭氏為徐王夫人，在朱家太廟東向建祠祭祀。 當朱元璋還是郭子興下屬時，曾被郭子興所猜疑，糧荒時不得糧食，馬氏偷竊炊餅，藏於懷中送給朱元璋吃，由於炊餅很熱，以致馬氏胸前的肉竟被燙傷，而以這樣的方法，朱元璋得以溫飽，但馬氏自己卻時常不得宿飽。後來二人貴盛時，朱元璋將之比作「蕪蔞豆粥」，「滹沱麥飯」，每每對群臣稱述皇后賢慧，可比唐太宗時的長孫皇后。朱元璋於內室中將此話向馬皇后說時，馬皇后卻說：「妾聞夫婦相保易，君臣相保難。陛下不忘妾同貧賤，願無忘群臣同艱難。且妾何敢比長孫皇后也！」趁機向朱元璋進諫，可見其賢慧 馬氏隨朱元璋征戰數十年，夫妻共患難，感情深厚。朱元璋進位為帝的同一天（洪武元年正月初四，1368年1月23日）即冊封結髮之妻馬氏為皇后，也同時封她所生的嫡長子朱標為皇太子。洪武二年，追封岳父馬公為徐王，岳母鄭氏為徐王夫人，在朱家太廟東向建祠祭祀。 當朱元璋還是郭子興下屬時，曾被郭子興所猜疑，糧荒時不得糧食，馬氏偷竊炊餅，藏於懷中送給朱元璋吃，由於炊餅很熱，以致馬氏胸前的肉竟被燙傷，而以這樣的方法，朱元璋得以溫飽，但馬氏自己卻時常不得宿飽。後來二人貴盛時，朱元璋將之比作「蕪蔞豆粥」，「滹沱麥飯」，每每對群臣稱述皇后賢慧，可比唐太宗時的長孫皇后。朱元璋於內室中將此話向馬皇后說時，馬皇后卻說：「妾聞夫婦相保易，君臣相保難。陛下不忘妾同貧賤，願無忘群臣同艱難。且妾何敢比長孫皇后也！」趁機向朱元璋進諫，可見其賢慧 皇后位正中宮以後，仍節儉嚴謹，也不允許朱元璋尋訪馬氏族人繼承馬公爵位，限制了外戚弄權的可能性。朱元璋嗜殺多疑，馬皇后仁慈善良，常諫勸，挽救不少大臣的性命皇后位正中宮以後，仍節儉嚴謹，也不允許朱元璋尋訪馬氏族人繼承馬公爵位，限制了外戚弄權的可能性。朱元璋嗜殺多疑，馬皇后仁慈善良，常諫...