Ming Xiaoling Tomb

The Ming Xiaoling Tomb is the burial site of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his empress. This UNESCO World Heritage site features the famous Sacred Way lined with stone statues of animals and officials, representing one of the largest imperial tombs in China.

Construction began in 1381 and took 25 years to complete. The tomb complex follows traditional Chinese feng shui principles and imperial burial customs. The Sacred Way, with its pairs of stone animals and officials, symbolizes the emperor's journey to the afterlife and represents the largest collection of stone sculptures from the Ming Dynasty.

• Walk the entire Sacred Way to see all the stone sculptures
• Visit during autumn when the ginkgo trees turn golden
• The stone elephants and camels are particularly impressive
• Allow 2-3 hours to explore the tomb complex
• Combine with a visit to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum nearby