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 (Shi San Ling 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.

There are just 2 tombs which have been excavated and open to the public: Dingling and Changling. Changling is the first tomb to be built. It took 2 years for renovation, and was opened in 1958. Dingling has been excavated so thoroughly that one has to get into the burial chamber itself. However, it is a very steep climb down and people who have problems with their heart or kneels are not suggested to visit the underground tomb. For wheel-chair users or those who don't want to go deep inside a tomb, We recommend Changling Tomb.