We spent a very interesting morning at the Ming Dynasty Tombs. This is a collective mausoleum for 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty and is located approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing. It was originally intended to be a central tomb, Changling, designated for Emperor Zhu Di and his empress only. His is the grandest and most magnificent of all the tombs. The succeeding twelve tombs were buit around his.
One of the grandest above-ground features of the Ming Tombs is the Ling'en Palace in the second yard of the grounds. It is exquisite in its architecture and is the only large palace made exclusively of camphor wood. The ceiling is painted in great detail and is supported by sixteen enormous solid camphor posts. The entire palace is constructed without the use of nails or any other metal support structure. Wooden pegs and dowels are used in the joints and the Palace was built in such a manner that it expands or contracts slightly in severe weather and even absorbs the jolting force of China's many earthquakes.
It now serves as a Quasi-Museum at the entrance and contains an elaborate history of the tombs, their construction and also features many precious artifacts retrieved from the tombs themselves.
It was an extremely interesting and educational visit. We hope you enjoy the photos. Again, many of them are not labeled, but I will come back later and update them as time allows.
It now serves as a Quasi-Museum at the entrance and contains an elaborate history of the tombs, their construction and also features many precious artifacts retrieved from the tombs themselves.
It was an extremely interesting and educational visit. We hope you enjoy the photos. Again, many of them are not labeled, but I will come back later and update them as time allows.
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