Beijing has been home to more than five feudal dynasties. Its no great surprise then, that 13 of the 16 Ming emperors have their tombs situated just outside the city. And how thoughtful of them to make their burial place a convenient stop off for travelers en route to the Great Wall at Badaling!! Covering a huge area, the Ming Tombs (shisanling or literally the 13 Tombs) are located 50km North West of the city. Spring is the best time of year to visit, when the area surrounding the vaults is alive with trees and blooming flowers. It is a good place to visit if you are interested in dynastic history. Aside from that, it's a little dry. However, the local government seemed to realize that there is a potentially lucrative market (at least passing through) and as such, are attempting to spice the whole thing up a little. Planned developments include a golf course, picnic area, swimming pool, a hotel and various restaurants and cafes.

The Ming Tombs are an attractive destination as much for the natural scenery of the area as for the tombs themselves. The tomb area begins with an impressive marble archway, erected in 1540, and further on, the road is lined with stone renderings of animals and officials. Only three of the tombs are actually openned for viewing. Changling,the earliest and largest of the tombs, dates from the year 1413. Another, Dingling, was constructed in the 16th century for the emperor Wan Li, who gave a party in his own funeral chamber to mark its completion. The tomb was excavated in 1958 and treasures found inside are now on display. Considerably fewer tourists visit Zhaoling. In addition to these, there are several more tombs-all unreconstructed. The area makes for a nice day trip from the city. Explore the old tombs and pick out a nice spot for a picnic. Nearby is the Shisanling Reservoir, built in 1958 by 400,000 workers in only six months.

Transportation: Taking one-day Tourist Bus is the best choice for you, such as Tourist Bus No.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, which all could get there, however, you might not arrive at Zhaoling on such way. Also, taking the bus to Changping District, then transfering to the small-pattern bus to get there directly, either you could take the Taxi from Changping for proceeding to, and the fare is about RMB10. If you drive the car by yourself, you could go up the Badaling Highway from Madian, then travelling according to the indication of the road marks after reaching the circle island of Changping.

The Entrance Fee:

The Spirit Road: RMB20 in the off-seasons, while RMB30 in the peak-seasons. Zhaoling: RMB20.

Dingling: RMB40 in the off-seasons, while RMB60 in the peak-seasons.

Changling: RMB30 in the off-seasons, while RMB45 in the peak-seasons.

(Source: ctrip.com)