Beijing Hotels: Places to Stay After Visiting the Ming Dynasty Tombs

The name China can be immediately connoted to terms like the Great Wall, Confucianism, Buddhism, or even to the Peking Duck. There is always a common theme to each of them, and this is their root from a very colorful 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 notable individuals because they improved the Great Wall and they began the production of porcelain wares. The Chinese, out of respect to the contributions of these emperors, honored them by building their resting places. A number of Beijing Hotels always include the Ming Dynasty tombs in their itineraries. For tourists who want a slice of the peaceful countryside, then this place is definitely a go!

The site is located some 50 kilometers north of Beijing. This was chosen by Emperor Yongle, the Ming emperor who moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. He was also known for envisioning the layout of the ancient city.

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. It is lined with statues of guardian animals and officials, with a front gate consisting of three red arches, called the "Great Red Gate". The Spirit Way starts with a gigantic stone memorial archway which is considered to be one of the biggest in China.

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 stone statues of mythical animals, which are all sculpted from blocks of stones and are larger than human proportions. These will lead you to a three-arched gate known as the Dragon and Phoenix Gate.

Only three tombs are open to the public at present. These are the Chang Ling, which is the largest, followed by 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!

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Author E. Larson is a long-time expatriate in Beijing, China. He works with the Henan Plaza Beijing and many other beijing hotels. Go to his website on the Henan Plaza Beijing here.

by: Efrenn Larson

Total views: 7 Word Count: 466 Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 Time: 3:35 PM - 0 comments

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