Ming Tombs Changling

Ming Tombs Changling: The Eternal Imprint of the Yongle Flourishing Age of the Ming Dynasty Changling is the first of the Ming Tombs. It is the joint tomb of Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty and Empress Renxiaowen, Xu Shi. It is located at the southern foot of the main peak of Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, Beijing. It was built in the seventh year of Yongle (1409). The mausoleum covers an area of approximately 120,000 square meters. Changling is one of the three largest imperial tombs in the Ming Tombs. It was built the earliest, and the mausoleum is large in scale. The plane layout is in the shape of a square in the front and a circle in the back. The square part in the front consists of three interconnected courtyards. Changling uses strict materials, meticulous construction, huge projects, and long construction time. The underground palace alone took four years. Emperor Zhu Di chose the mausoleum site at the same time as he built the imperial palace in Beijing, and it was completed in the eleventh year of Yongle (1413). The ground buildings were basically completed in March of the second year of Xuande (1427). 📍Attraction address Changling is located at the north of the intersection of Huaichang Road and Changchi Road, Shisanling Town, Changping District, Beijing. It is located at the southern foot of the main peak of Tianshou Mountain. It is the largest and most well-preserved royal mausoleum in the Ming Tombs. 🚗Attraction transportation Self-driving: Take the Jingzang Expressway (G6) to Changping Xiguan Roundabout, turn into Jingyin Road and go straight north, passing the Stone Archway, Zongshen Road, and Qikong Bridge to reach it. The whole journey takes about 1 hour. Public transportation: Take bus No. 872 from Deshengmen and go directly to Changling; or take the Changping subway line to Nanshao Station, transfer to Chang 1/22 to Changping Dongguan, and then transfer to 314. Tip: The "Shisanling Scenic Area Station" of the subway is far from Changling. It is recommended to choose a bus or drive for more convenience. 👍️Must-see attractions 1. Ling'en Hall The highest-level wooden structure building in the Ming Dynasty, with a width of nine rooms and a depth of five rooms, 60 giant golden nanmu pillars stand upright, and the hall displays a bronze statue of Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di and replicas of Ming Dynasty cultural relics, showing the royal style. 2. Ming Tower and Baocheng Baocheng is a circular mound with a diameter of 300m. You can overlook the entire mausoleum area from the top. Inside the Ming Tower stands a stone tablet of "Tomb of Emperor Chengzu Wen", which is still clear after years of wind and rain. 3. Zongshen Road (Sacred Road) The main road of the mausoleum area is 7.3 km long. There are stone archways, stone statues (more than 30 stone figures and animals), and the Stele Pavilion of Divine Merit and Holy Virtue along the way, showing the pinnacle of Ming Dynasty stone carving art. 🎟️Ticket information - Changling: CNY 45/person for adults, half price for students and the elderly, and free for those over 60 (reservation required). - Joint ticket: including Changling, Dingling, Zhaoling and Shenlu, CNY 110/person, which is more cost-effective. - Reservation: All tourists are advised to purchase tickets through official channels in advance to avoid queuing on site. 💗Other tips 1. Length of visit: It is recommended to arrange 3–4 hours to experience the historical heritage in depth. 2. Dining: There are few restaurants in the scenic area. You can bring your own water and snacks. The Kangling Village spring pancake banquet and Changling Village Helao banquet are worth a try around the area. 3. Opening hours: Peak season (April–October) 8:30–17:30, off-season (November–March) 8:30–17:00. Note that admission stops 1 hour before closing. 4. Historical background: Changling was built in the seventh year of Yongle (1409). It is the joint tomb of Zhu Di and Empress Xu. It took 18 years to complete. Its "front court and back bedroom" layout became a model for imperial tombs in the Ming Dynasty. Changling is not only a treasure of architectural art, but also a key to decoding the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty. Standing in front of the Ling'en Hall, the fragrance of golden nanmu seems to travel through 600 years, telling the legend of Emperor Yongle moving the capital to Beijing and going to the West seven times. If you are fond of Ming history, this place will definitely make your trip worthwhile.