the ming tombs

    Located at the southern foot of the Tianshou Mountain in Changpong District in the north western suburban areas of Beijing, the Ming Tombs cover an area of 40 square kilometers with 13 Ming emperors buried here. Ever since 1409 when Emperor Zhu Di; the Emperor Chengzu started building his tomb here till the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644 the cinstrucition of the imperial tombs had been going on ceaselessly, lasting a period of over 200 years.
    In 1407, a certain minister of rites and a master geomancer were sent by Zhu Di, the Emperor Chengzu to find an “Auspicious Area” in the surroundings of Beijing, which was to be used a site for his eternal repose. Since the area, where the tombs are located now is a sunny and spaxious area, fertile and rich in produce, it was considered an ideal one. Furthermore,the mountain here used to be called ”Huangtu” mountain it is very apt for the location of the royal tombs. As “Huangtu” in Chinese meant for yellow soil, with yellow being the color symbolizing the royal family and the soil the very foundation for the whole royal edifice, Zhu Di was greatly satisfied with it. Thus the area was chosen to be the location for the Ming Tombs.
    There are 16 emperor in the Ming Dynasty as known to many people. With the exception of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty was buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing. Zhu Yunwen, the Emperor Jianwen who disappeared and Zhu Qiyu, the Emperor Jingtai who was buried at Jinshan Hill in the western suburvs of Beijing, all other 13 Ming emperor were buried in this tomb area, hence the area being called the 13 Ming tombs.