Ming Tombs

Last Updated: September 16, 1998
13 of the Ming emperor's are buried in one area that is referred to collectively as the Ming Tombs. Our tour to the great wall took us to two tombs. Both were a major disappointment. The first tomb has essentially a small museum that was okay, and the exterior was your standard temple-like buildings so it was okay too, but you couldn't enter the tomb.

The exterior of the second tomb wasn't as nice as the first, but you could enter the tomb. This was a bizarre experience: There's a long line to enter the tomb that wraps around the exterior building. When you enter, you proceed to march down (still in a line) many flights of stairs. You then enter the tomb, which while vault like, is nearly empty (except for the people in line). The line snakes around a few stone chairs and some other artifacts before entering the main chamber, which has some plain stone coffins behind glass, with nothing of interest to see. You then march up a set of stairs and you're done.

The only picture I have from there is of a walkway (wall) outside the second tomb we went to.

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