Located in Changping District, 50 kilometers northwest from Beijing downtown, Ming Tombs is the mausoleums of thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and it is the largest clusters of imperial cemeteries in China.

Nowadays, Changling, Dingling, Zhaoling and the Sacred Way are opened to the public.

Changling, the tomb of the third Emperor of Ming Dynasty Zhudi and his empress, is the largest,  original and the best preserved among the thirteen tombs of Ming Tombs. It started to build in 1409 and lasted four years to finished. The whole tomb was built square in the front part and round in the rear, representing the earth and the heaven respectively. There has three courtyards in the front and a Treasure City in the round rear part.

Dingling is the mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Yijun, the thirteenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty and his two empresses. Constructed between 1584 and 1590, it is the only one underground palace in Ming Tombs. This underground palace consists of five vaults with giant marble archways and a floor paved with huge polished stone known as "gold bricks". Some precious articles excavated are on exhibition like crowns, ornaments, and utensils.

Lying to the southwest of Dingling is Zhaoling, the mausoleum of Zhu Zaihou, the twelfth emperor of the Ming Dynasty and his three empresses. Featuring the special Dumb Yard in a crescent shape housing the imperial coffins, consisting of four bridges and halls, it is the best representation of a tomb complex.

The Sacred Way is the path leading to the Changling Tomb. Along the Way from south to north, there are 18 pairs of marble figures lined up in antithesis, which were erected over 500 years. Besides there are some other historical sites including the Stone Tablet Archway, Great Red Gate, Tablet Pavilion, Ornamental Columns, etc.

Listed as one of World Heritages, with rich history and culture, Ming Tombs is really worth a visit during your tour to Beijing. And usually it is combined with the Great Wall of Badaling or Mutianyu in one day.