A Comprehensive Review of Thập Tam Lăng in China

Overview of Thập Tam Lăng

• Location: Foot of Tian Shou Mountain, Changping District, Beijing, China
• Area: 40 square kilometers
• Age: Over 600 years old

The Ming Dynasty Tombs, also known as Thập Tam Lăng, are the final resting places of 13 Ming emperors in China's feudal history. This monumental site, dating back over 600 years, is located at the foot of Tian Shou Mountain, Changping District, about 50 kilometers northwest of downtown Beijing.

The complex of the Thập Tam Lăng rests beneath the Thiên Thọ mountain

In 1409, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty, Minh Thành Tổ Chu Đệ, ordered the construction of his tomb on Thiên Thọ Mountain, naming it Trường Lăng. Over the next 230 years, successive emperors built their tombs stretching from the north to the south, flanking Trường Lăng in a fan-shaped arrangement, following the principle of 'left summons, right target.' All the tombs are interconnected by a 7-kilometer-long Sacred Path. The entire Thập Tam Lăng scenic area in China spans approximately 40 square kilometers.

Each tomb shares a similar layout but differs in size and style. The general design of the tombs consists of a square-shaped front and a circular rear, symbolizing the ancient Chinese philosophical concept of 'heaven is round, earth is square.'

From site selection to design, the emperors paid close attention to the principles of feng shui, aiming for harmony between Heaven, Earth, and Man. Every wall, roof tile, and intricate pattern in the tombs is regarded as a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture.

A map illustrating the layout of the 13 tombs at the Thập Tam Lăng

The Thập Tam Lăng in Beijing is considered the best-preserved tomb complex in China, with the highest number of emperors buried there. In 2003, UNESCO recognized the Ming dynasty tombs as a World Cultural Heritage site. Currently, only the Trường Lăng, Định Lăng, Triệu Lăng, and the Sacred Path are open to tourists.

Admission fees for visiting the Thập Tam Lăng in Beijing.

Based on travel experiences in China, the opening hours and ticket prices for the Thập Tam Lăng vary during peak and off-peak seasons. It is recommended to plan your visit accordingly to fully explore the Ming tomb complex.

• Opening hours:

• Admission fees:

* Note:

• The Thập Tam Lăng is open to visitors from Monday to Sunday every week.
• Ticket sales stop one hour before the closing time.

Tickets are required to visit the Ming Thập Tam Lăng in Beijing

The best time to visit the Thập Tam Lăng

In general, you can visit the Thập Tam Lăng at any time of the year. However, the best periods are usually early spring or early summer, when the weather is relatively warm and dry.

It is recommended to plan your visit to the Ming tombs during the day to allow enough time to explore the majestic, ancient tombs and learn about the historical and cultural heritage of China found there.

Which emperors are buried in the Thập Tam Lăng?

When booking a tour to China to visit the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, visitors are often curious about which emperors are buried in these tombs. The Ming Dynasty had a total of 16 emperors, but 3 of them did not have their tombs built in the Thirteen Tombs area.

The first emperor, Ming Taizu - Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, is buried at Xiaoling, Nanjing.

The second emperor, Ming Huizong/ Zhu Doanwen, disappeared after being overthrown by Ming Chengzu, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

The seventh emperor, Ming Daitong/ Zhu Jiuyue, refused to be buried at the Thirteen Tombs. He was laid to rest on the hills northwest of Beijing.

Thus, the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty is the final resting place for 13 Ming emperors, including the following:

The 13 imperial tombs within the Thập Tam Lăng complex in Beijing

Thập Tam Lăng is the burial site of 13 emperors from the Ming Dynasty

The remarkable structures found within the Ming Tombs of Thập Tam Lăng

The Changling Tomb

In 1409, the Trường Lăng tomb was the first and largest to be built at the Thập Tam Lăng site, taking over 18 years to complete. Located at the summit of Mount Thiên Thọ, it later became the central point of the entire imperial tomb complex. Among the 13 Ming dynasty imperial tombs, Trường Lăng is the best preserved.

With its majestic and magnificent architecture, intricate and painstaking carvings, Trường Lăng is considered a symbol of ancient Chinese architecture. The most impressive structure within the tomb is the Linh Ân Hall, a grand palace made entirely of camphor wood, which has remained perfectly preserved since the Ming era.

The main hall is structured with 9 wide sections, 5 deep sections, and 16 primary support pillars made from 13-meter-tall camphor wood, each with a base diameter of 1.1 meters. The ceiling is adorned with multicolored paints, while the floor is covered in yellow tiles. At the center of the hall stands a bronze statue of Emperor Zhu Di seated on a throne decorated with nine majestic dragons.

Inside Trường Lăng, visitors can admire portrait paintings of Emperor Zhu Di, numerous priceless treasures, and learn about the accomplishments of this emperor in Chinese history.

The vast Trường Lăng complex holds the title of the largest mausoleum in the Ming Dynasty burial site area.

Định Lăng

Located at the southern foot of Thiên Thọ Mountain, Định Lăng was constructed between 1584 and 1590. It ranks as the third largest structure in the Thập Tam Lăng complex, following Trường Lăng and Vĩnh Lăng. The total construction cost was estimated to be around 300 tons of silver.

In 1959, archaeologists uncovered Định Lăng thanks to a stone stele detailing the method for entering and navigating the tomb. This allowed the site to be opened for public tours. The most significant feature of Định Lăng is its underground palace, located more than 27 meters below ground, which houses the remains of Emperor Minh Thần Tông Chu Dực Quân and two Empresses.

The entire underground palace consists of five halls made entirely of stone, with an entrance carved from jade and floors paved with gold-covered bricks. At the center of each hall lies a white marble coffin. The main hall contains three thrones made of white marble, with incense, candles, flowers, as well as five types of glazed porcelain and blue ceramic vases filled with oil for lighting the lamps placed before them.

Quan tài của Hoàng đế và hai Hoàng hậu được đặt ở Hậu điện cùng hơn 3000 di vật tùy táng quý giá như đĩa vàng, bình hoa, ngọc bích, bạc, lụa... Trong đó có 4 bảo vật quốc gia là vương miện vàng của Hoàng đế, vương miện vàng của Hoàng hậu, ngọc trai phát sáng và đồ gốm tráng men ba màu từ triều Minh. Tất cả những di vật văn hóa này được lưu giữ và trưng bày tại Bảo tàng Lăng mộ Định Lăng.

Cung điện ngầm đã được khai quật tại Định Lăng

Chiêu Lăng

Minh Chiêu Lăng là nơi an táng Hoàng đế Long Khánh, còn được biết đến là Minh Mục Tông/ Chu Tái Kỵ. Công trình có tổng diện tích 34.000m2 - quy mô nhỏ nhất trong số các lăng mộ được mở cửa cho du khách tại Thập Tam Lăng. Toàn bộ các di vật và những thông tin về Hoàng đế Long Khánh và triều đại của ông hiện được trưng bày và lưu giữ tại Điện Linh Ẩn - chính điện của Chiêu Lăng.

Chiêu Lăng can be considered the only Ming Dynasty mausoleum that has preserved nearly all of its structures, including the stelae pavilion, the Ling En Gate, the Ling En Hall, the Ming Lou Tower, and Bao Cheng. An impressive feature of its layout is the placement of the royal coffins of the Emperor, Empress, and concubines within an underground palace located beneath a crescent-shaped courtyard.

Historically, before the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Chiêu Lăng was severely damaged by the Qing army. It was later restored between 1785 and 1787. However, during the 19th and 20th centuries, the site gradually deteriorated. In 1980, Chiêu Lăng underwent significant restoration and was reopened to visitors in 1990. It is the first and only mausoleum within the complex to have undergone such extensive restoration.

Minh Chiêu Lăng in the Thập Tam Lăng

The stone arch gate - Thạch Bài Phường (Shibaifang)

The marble archway, Thạch Bài Phường, marks the beginning of the Shen Road, the main path through the Thập Tam Lăng. This structure was commissioned by Emperor Ming Thế Tông in 1540, during the 19th year of the Jiajing era, to honor the achievements of his ancestors. Nearly 500 years later, Thạch Bài Phường remains largely intact and is the largest archway of its kind in China.

The Thạch Bài Phường archway spans 29 meters in width and was built entirely from stone using the 'six columns and five gates' architectural style. It is supported by six marble pillars and five gates. Large stone pedestals beneath the pillars are decorated with intricate relief carvings of dragons and clouds. Atop each pedestal is a stone statue of a mythical creature. Above the gates is a false roof adorned with sculpted, finely detailed patterns of roof tiles.

Thạch Bài Phường stands as one of the finest examples of stone carving from the Ming Dynasty. The vivid, delicate carvings on the stone arch are exceptionally rare within the entire span of the Ming and Qing periods.

Thạch Bài Phường - the exquisite marble archway in the Thập Tam Lăng

Thần Lộ - Con đường linh thiêng

Thần Lộ, hay còn gọi là đường Thần Đạo, hiểu nôm na nghĩa là “con đường đi lên thiên đường”. Trong lịch sử Trung Hoa, Hoàng đế là con trời, và sẽ trở về trời bằng đường Thần Lộ sau khi tạ thế.

Ban đầu đường Thần Đạo được xây dựng là lối vào Trường Lăng, nhưng sau này trở thành con đường chung của quần thể lăng mộ Thập Tam Lăng. Đường Thần Đạo chạy theo trục Nam - Bắc, chia đôi khu lăng mộ, có tổng chiều dài 7km, là con đường dài nhất trong các kiến trúc lăng mộ ở Trung Quốc.

Dọc theo đường Thần Đạo là Cổng vòm bằng đá, Đại Hồng Môn và Bi lâu - Bia Thánh Đức Thần Công, 6 cột Hoa Biểu bằng đá, 18 bức Thạch Tượng Sinh, Long Phụng Môn và Thất Khổng Kiều.

The Sacred Way passes through the Đại Hồng Môn gate, leading into the Thập Tam Lăng complex.

How to get to the Thập Tam Lăng

To reach this famous Chinese tourist destination, please refer to the detailed instructions below:

From Vietnam to Beijing

To visit the Ming Thập Tam Lăng, you will need to book a flight from Vietnam to Beijing. There are many domestic and international airlines operating flights between Vietnam and Beijing, with both direct and connecting options available. Airlines such as China Eastern Airlines, Spring Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines offer these routes.

Bạn có thể tham khảo bảng giá những chặng bay phổ biến từ Việt Nam đi Bắc Kinh trong bảng sau:

Bảng giá vé một số chặng bay từ Việt Nam đi Bắc Kinh

Từ Bắc Kinh tới khu lăng mộ

Xe bus

Nếu đi bus bạn có thể đón xe số 872 từ bến Deshengmen (Đức Thắng Môn) đến bến bus Định Lăng hoặc Trường Lăng. Để tìm điểm dừng của xe bus 872 bạn hãy đi theo các chỉ dẫn đến phía Tây bến xe Deshengmen.

• Ticket price: 9 CNY
• Frequency: Every 10 minutes
• Operating hours: 07:00 - 20:10
• Travel time: Approximately 1 hour

Bus 872 from Beijing to Thập Tam Lăng

Subway

Take the Changping subway line to the Changping Dongguan station. From there, walk about 500 meters west to the bus stop where you can catch bus 67 or bus 314. Get off at the Dagongmen (Đại Cung Môn) stop, and then walk about 300 meters to reach the Ming Tombs.

Note that you should not get off the bus at the Ming Tombs station, as this stop is located over 4 km away from the tomb complex.

Taxi

A taxi ride from central Beijing to the Ming Tombs area costs approximately 136 CNY to 165 CNY. Taxi fares in Beijing can vary depending on the company and the time of day. It is advisable to confirm the fare with the driver in advance and ensure the meter is turned on.

Alternatively, you can also hail a taxi from the Changping Dongguan subway station. The taxi fare to Dagongmen (Đại Cung Môn) is around 25 CNY, and to Trường Lăng it is approximately 35 CNY.

Tips for visiting the Thập Tam Lăng

Nếu có dự định tham quan Minh Thập Tam Lăng, bạn hãy lưu lại ngay một số kinh nghiệm hữu ích dưới đây:

• Đặt mua vé tham quan sớm để chủ động trong chuyến đi.
• Trung bình thời gian tham quan ở khu lăng mộ khoảng nửa ngày đến một ngày. Bạn lưu ý thời gian mở cửa đón khách tham quan của từng khu lăng mộ để sắp xếp thời gian hợp lý.
• Nên mặc trang phục kín đáo và mang giày dép sao cho thuận tiện di chuyển nhiều trong khi tham quan các lăng mộ.
• Tùy vào tình hình thời tiết mà bạn cân nhắc mang theo các đồ dùng cần thiết như ô, áo mưa, kem chống nắng, mũ, kính râm…
• Thuê Hướng dẫn viên khi tham quan Thập Tam Lăng để hiểu thêm về các khu lăng mộ. Khi tham quan ở Định Lăng, bạn có thể thuê dịch vụ Thuyết minh âm thanh (Audio Guide). Thiết bị bluetooth được cho thuê với giá 20 - 30 CNY, đặt cọc 200 CNY, có lời dẫn bằng tiếng Trung hoặc tiếng Anh dài khoảng 1 giờ. Tại một số khu vực tham quan nhất định, hướng dẫn âm thanh sẽ tự động phát và giới thiệu cho bạn về địa điểm đó.
• Nếu không tự tin đi tự túc, bạn nên đặt các tour Bắc Kinh, Trung Quốc có lịch trình tham quan Thập Tam Lăng để có trải nghiệm tốt nhất. Các hướng dẫn viên trong tour sẽ đưa đoàn đi tham quan và giải thích chi tiết về đặc điểm của từng lăng mộ.

Kinh nghiệm tham quan Minh Thập Tam Lăng

Câu hỏi thường gặp khi du lịch Thập Tam Lăng Trung Quốc

Many people wonder why this tomb is located so far from the capital.

There are three main reasons why the Thập Tam Lăng was constructed so far from the capital:

• First, the available land within the capital was insufficient to accommodate the large area required for the tomb. The tomb was designed to be grand and majestic, as it was meant to be the emperor's palace in the afterlife, symbolizing glory and power.
• Second, Emperor Zhu Di had great faith in feng shui, and the feng shui of Mount Tian Tho was considered perfect. The valley at the foot of Mount Tian Tho is vast, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, with mountains on three sides. This location was believed to absorb positive energy from the earth and sky, ward off evil spirits, and protect from malevolent forces from the north. Thus, it was seen as the ideal place for the emperor's resting place.
• Third, the area also had military significance, serving as a stronghold that was difficult to attack, providing a strategic defense for the capital.

The Thập Tam Lăng was built far from the capital due to factors like space and feng shui.

Is it possible to visit all 13 tombs?

Currently, due to various factors, only 3 tombs in the Thập Tam Lăng complex are open to visitors. However, during the 2024 Ming Dynasty Cultural Forum, it was announced that by 2030, the city government of Beijing plans to open all 13 tombs to the public.

According to a report from the Beijing Daily, the opening of the tombs will occur in three stages:

• Stage one, from 2024 to 2025, will open the tombs of Tư Lăng and Vĩnh Lăng.
• Stage two, from 2026 to 2028, will open the tombs of Mậu Lăng, Thái Lăng, and Đức Lăng.
• Stage three, from 2029 to 2030, will open the tombs of Hiến Lăng, Dụ Lăng, and Cảnh Lăng.

Once fully opened, the Ming Tombs complex will host exhibitions showcasing relics, cultural heritage, and ancient buildings. The construction of the tombs, architectural features, and building techniques will also be explained to visitors, offering them a comprehensive view of the cultural history of the Ming Dynasty.

The Thập Tam Lăng complex is expected to open all 13 tombs to the public by 2030

It can be confidently stated that Thập Tam Lăng is a remarkable and grand masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture. Even today, this structure holds immense archaeological research value. To enhance visitor experiences and support research purposes, the Ming Thập Tam Lăng complex is still undergoing restoration and will continue to be opened to the public in the future. If you plan to visit Beijing in the near future, don’t forget to visit this impressive historical site!

Author: Phương Thảo

Image source: Internet