When you hear the name China, you would immediately relate this to the Great Wall, maybe to Confucianism or Buddhism, or even to the Peking Duck. Whatever you relate this name with, there is always a common denominator to each of them: they are borne out of a very spectacular history.
A part of this history is Imperialism and the emperor was of course, the ruler of the kingdom. China was ruled by several dynasties, from the earliest Qin to the last Qing Dynasty. One of the well-known of these was the the Ming Dynasty.
The emperors of the Ming Dynasty were visionaries. They extended the Great Wall and they also started the large manufacturing of porcelain wares. Out of respect for these lines of emperors, the Chinese honored them by building their tombs. The Ming Dynasty Tombs, the burial site of thirteen Ming emperors, are a part of the itinerary of some Beijing Hotels. For tourists who want to get out of the buzzing city, then this may be a perfect place for you to visit.
The site, which is located some 50 kilometers north of Beijing, was chosen by Emperor Yongle, the third Ming Dynasty emperor. He built many famous landmarks and monuments in Beijing, the country's new capital.
Following the principles of Feng Shui, the builders carefully chose the site of the tombs. From this, the 40-square kilometer area surrounded by mountains in a quiet valley and tranquil water was born.
A seven kilometer road, known as the "Spirit Way" (Shen dao) leads into the complex. Statues of guardian animals and officials, with a front gate consisting of three red arches, called the "Great Red Gate" can be seen. A gigantic stone memorial archway, which is considered to be one of the biggest in China, signals the beginning of the Spirit Way.
Further within, you can see the Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion which houses a 50-ton tortoise shaped dragon-beast hauling a stone tablet. It was believed that the traditional designs guided the spirits of the deceased.
The road will lead you to 18 pairs of larger-than-life stone statues of mythical animals, which are all sculpted from blocks of stones. Finally you will arrive at a three-arched gate known as the Dragon and Phoenix Gate.
At present, only three tombs are open to the public: These are the Chang Ling, Ding Ling and Zhao Ling.
The tombs were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in August of 2003. Due to this positive development, Beijing hotels are experiencing increased occupancy rates throughout the years. The generous staff of the numerous Beijing hotels will never fail to help you plan your itinerary. Visit the Ming Dynasty Tombs now and experience the wonders of Imperial China! - 30294
A part of this history is Imperialism and the emperor was of course, the ruler of the kingdom. China was ruled by several dynasties, from the earliest Qin to the last Qing Dynasty. One of the well-known of these was the the Ming Dynasty.
The emperors of the Ming Dynasty were visionaries. They extended the Great Wall and they also started the large manufacturing of porcelain wares. Out of respect for these lines of emperors, the Chinese honored them by building their tombs. The Ming Dynasty Tombs, the burial site of thirteen Ming emperors, are a part of the itinerary of some Beijing Hotels. For tourists who want to get out of the buzzing city, then this may be a perfect place for you to visit.
The site, which is located some 50 kilometers north of Beijing, was chosen by Emperor Yongle, the third Ming Dynasty emperor. He built many famous landmarks and monuments in Beijing, the country's new capital.
Following the principles of Feng Shui, the builders carefully chose the site of the tombs. From this, the 40-square kilometer area surrounded by mountains in a quiet valley and tranquil water was born.
A seven kilometer road, known as the "Spirit Way" (Shen dao) leads into the complex. Statues of guardian animals and officials, with a front gate consisting of three red arches, called the "Great Red Gate" can be seen. A gigantic stone memorial archway, which is considered to be one of the biggest in China, signals the beginning of the Spirit Way.
Further within, you can see the Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion which houses a 50-ton tortoise shaped dragon-beast hauling a stone tablet. It was believed that the traditional designs guided the spirits of the deceased.
The road will lead you to 18 pairs of larger-than-life stone statues of mythical animals, which are all sculpted from blocks of stones. Finally you will arrive at a three-arched gate known as the Dragon and Phoenix Gate.
At present, only three tombs are open to the public: These are the Chang Ling, Ding Ling and Zhao Ling.
The tombs were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in August of 2003. Due to this positive development, Beijing hotels are experiencing increased occupancy rates throughout the years. The generous staff of the numerous Beijing hotels will never fail to help you plan your itinerary. Visit the Ming Dynasty Tombs now and experience the wonders of Imperial China! - 30294
About the Author:
Author E. Larson is a long-time expatriate in Beijing, China. He works closely with the Xijiao Beijing Hotel and many other hotels in Beijing. Go to his website on the Xijiao Beijing Hotel here.
