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Trying to squeeze in one more entry before we head to Xi’an tomorrow to see the Terra Cotta warriors. Although it would be a shame to short-change the Ming Tombs. So Dad is taking over for this day, and Jensen promises to be back at the helm after Xi’an.

A family event, Carolyn drove, and the whole family went (except for Tom who still has to work.)  The Ming Tombs are a little less than an hour from the house, and the traveling isn’t too bad since we can stay well out on the outskirts of town.

The Ming Tombs are 13 tombs of Emperors of the Ming Dynasty that were laid to rest in the same general area. The necropolis is entered via the Sacred Way, a long road lined with stone animals. The area is nestled among the mountains, surrounded on three sides. The Tombs themselves are scattered over a vast area, with only a couple of them restored, but all of them open.

Visiting the Ming Tombs is one of the more expensive events. Each has it’s own entry fee, and these fees are more than the Summer Palace or Prince Gong Mansion. They start to add up for 7 people going to multiple tombs!

The first tomb we visited is the largest and most restored. It is the Chang Ling tomb, and when driving to the Ming Tombs, it is the name of the area on the signs. The Chang Ling tomb was the first one built here, and is very large and very complete.

The basic layout is a series of building and gates built along a central axis, leading to a large, tall tower which overlooks the entire tomb complex to one side, and a large hill which the emperor is entombed in on the other side.

The Chang Ling central hall is enormous, and has a small museum, and a very large statue of the emperor inside.  A special wood is used to make the huge posts and crossbeams, and it has a nice sweet smell.

The open courtyards have small stalls for selling souvenirs and refreshments. They are cool, with many tall trees, and grass. There are numerous rest and relaxation places, and even that rarest of all commodites, a genuine 4-star bathroom!!  The three courtyards end at a huge tower that is the entrance to the large hill under which the emperor is buried. At Chang Ling, the burial chamber in intact, but at Ding Ling, our second destination, they have excavated the burial chamber.

At Ding Ling tomb, there is again a very large tower, with a large inscribed rock with a prayer for the Emperor. At Chang Ling that’s as far as you can go, but at Ding Ling, they have recently excavated down more than 100 ft to the original burial chamber. The Emperor here was buried with his two Empresses, and numerous concubines. The burial chamber was intact. They have opened it up for tourists, but the burial remains are still there hidden by large red boxes. The treasures of the tombs are now in museums above ground.

The Ming Tombs are impressive and calming. They were not too crowded, but we did see a lot of Westerners here, the highest percentage of any place so far.  It may have to do with the higher prices. We only got to see two of the tombs at length, and it would be interesting to see some of the less restored ones.

Again, we had lots of people asking to take picture with Jensen and Mia. Mia’s not crazy about having her picture take with strangers, but Jensen’s usually a good sport about it, but with some of the larger tour groups she has to stand there smiling until her face aches!

On the way out Jensen and Mia decided to try an old-fashioned mode of transport, and they had a blast. You could hear Mia laughing a mile away.

It’s late and I’ve got to go - it’s off to Xi’an tomorrow bright and early!