Dingling Tomb is the only one among the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty whose underground palace was fully excavated and opened to the public. Located at the foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, 44 kilometers northwest of Beijing, this tomb attracts tourists with the opportunity to descend into a real imperial burial site and see everything with their own eyes.
Emperor Wanli — The Ruler of an Era of Decline
Dingling Tomb is the burial site of Emperor Zhu Yijun, known by his reign title Wanli (1573–1620), and his two empresses — Xiaoduan and Xiaojing. Zhu Yijun was the thirteenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty and reigned longer than all his predecessors — a full 48 years. He ascended the throne at the age of 10, and the early years of his reign passed under the strict control of the regent Zhang Juzheng, who effectively governed the country.
After Zhang Juzheng`s death in 1582, Emperor Wanli took power into his own hands. In the early years of his independent rule, he proved himself a capable and diligent ruler: the economy flourished, and the army won victories in three major wars — against the Mongols, in Korea, and against the rebellious prince Yang Yinglong.
However, in the last 20 years of his reign, the emperor practically withdrew from governing the state. He stopped attending morning audiences, did not read ministerial reports for years, and lived as a recluse in the Forbidden City. One of the main reasons was a prolonged conflict with the courtiers over the question of the heir to the throne, which lasted almost 30 years. The reign of Wanli is considered a symbol of the decline of the Ming Dynasty.
The emperor began construction of his own tomb in 1584, when he was only 22 years old. Construction lasted six years and cost an amount exceeding the state`s tax revenues for two years. According to legend, the emperor held a feast in the underground palace after its completion. Emperor Wanli died in 1620 and was buried in Dingling.
Architecture and Structure of Dingling Tomb
The Dingling complex occupies an area of about 180,000 square meters and is built according to the principle of "square in front, round in back," like the other Ming tombs. The gates, courtyards, the Bright Tower (Minglou), and the "Treasure City" (Baocheng) have been preserved.
The following structures have survived on the surface:
Three inner courtyards.
• The Bright Tower (Minglou) — a stone structure with a double-eaved roof, inside which is installed a stele with the inscription "Tomb of Emperor Shenzong" (the posthumous name of Wanli).
• The "Treasure City" (Baocheng) — a circular brick wall about 230 meters in diameter with battlements and a riding path inside.
• Most of the wooden buildings, including the Ling`endian Hall, were destroyed in 1644 during the invasion of Li Zicheng`s rebel forces. During the Qing Dynasty, they were restored but on a reduced scale.
The Underground Palace — What Tourists Will Actually See
The underground palace of Dingling is located at a depth of 27 meters below the surface. Many tourists expect to see something like a luxurious imperial hall, but in reality, it is five stone vaulted halls, decorated very modestly.
What is important to know before visiting:
The underground palace is not a "palace" in the usual sense, but rather a dungeon with high stone vaults. The walls and floors are stone, without rich decoration.
Inside there are only three stone thrones (one for the emperor, two for the empresses) and several large ceramic jars (the so-called "eternal lamps" with oil and wicks).
The three thrones are located in the central hall: the central one — with carved dragons (for the emperor), the side ones — with phoenixes (for the empresses).
In the rear hall (the largest, 30 meters long and 9.5 meters high) are three stone sarcophagi — for the emperor in the center and the two empresses on the sides. The sarcophagi are replicas; the originals were damaged during the excavations and have not survived.
In the side halls (left and right) there are stone beds on which the empresses` coffins were supposed to stand, but they are empty.
Do not expect rich decorations, carved walls, or golden statues. These are stone halls with high vaults and very few objects. The entire value of this place lies in its history and atmosphere, not in its decoration.
What Was Found in the Tomb and Where to See It
The excavations of Dingling were carried out in 1956–1957. More than 3,000 items were found in the tomb, including gold, silver, jade, porcelain, as well as fabrics, imperial clothing, and other artifacts.
The most valuable finds:
• The Emperor`s Golden Crown — made of the finest gold threads, decorated with two dragons playing with a pearl. This is a unique find, discovered for the first time in China.
• Four Phoenix Crowns (Fengguan) — headpieces of the empresses, adorned with more than 5,000 pearls and 1,000 precious stones each.
• The Dragon Crown — the emperor`s ceremonial headpiece embroidered with 12 dragons.
• "The Robe of a Hundred Sons" — the clothing of Empress Xiaojing with embroidery depicting pines, bamboo, plum blossoms, rocks, and scenes with a hundred children.
Where to see the finds now:
Currently, many artifacts from Dingling are displayed in two above-ground exhibition halls on the tomb`s grounds, where you can see gold and silver items, jade, porcelain, clothing, and headpieces. Temporary exhibitions are also regularly held on the complex`s grounds, featuring the most valuable items, including the crown of Emperor Wanli.
Practical Information for Visitors
• Opening Hours: during peak season (April–October) — from 8:00 to 17:30; during low season (November–March) — from 8:30 to 17:00.
• Entrance Ticket: about 40–45 yuan. For visiting several tombs and the Sacred Road, it is more economical to purchase a combined ticket.
• How to Get There: you can reach the Ming Tombs complex by bus 872 from Deshengmen stop. Inside the complex, it is better to move between tombs using internal buses or electric vehicles.
Dingling Tomb is the only opportunity to see an underground imperial burial site of the Ming Dynasty. However, it is important to have the right expectations: the underground palace is not a luxurious hall, but modest stone chambers with high vaults, where three stone thrones and a few old jars stand. The sarcophagi are replicas, and all the real treasures are displayed in museums on the surface.
The main thing in Dingling is the very atmosphere of descending into history and the understanding that you are in a place where 400 years ago, during his lifetime, Emperor Wanli himself came to celebrate the completion of construction of his final resting place.
