The Ming Tombs are the burial valley of the Ming emperors in Changping District, about 50 km north of central Beijing and roughly an hour by car. Four sites are open to visitors: the Sacred Way, Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling. Half a day covers the highlights, and the tombs pair naturally with a day on the Great Wall.
- Open sites: Sacred Way, Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling
- Tickets: Dingling CNY 40, Changling CNY 30, Zhaoling CNY 20 in November–March; seniors 60+ free with valid ID (as of November 2026)
- Opening hours: November–March 8:30–16:30; April–October 8:30–17:30
- Booking: real-name tickets bought online in advance (as of November 2026); on our tours we book them for you
- Getting there: about 1 hour by car from central Beijing; bus 872 from Deshengmen
- Time needed: half a day for the main sites
Stone figures, a nanmu hall and an underground palace
The tombs share a single valley. Low mountains wrap around it, and the yellow roofs of the halls sit against the hills like small palaces.
On the Sacred Way you walk between stone elephants and camels carved almost six centuries ago. At Changling you stand inside a hall built on the scale of the Forbidden City’s greatest throne hall, held up by single trunks of precious nanmu wood. And at Dingling you walk down stone stairs into an emperor’s underground palace.
The four open sites
The Sacred Way (Shenlu)
The Sacred Way is the ceremonial road into the valley, and the easiest walking of the day. Eighteen pairs of stone figures, carved in 1435, face each other across the road: lions, camels, elephants, qilin (the mythical hooved beast of good omen), horses, and military and civil officials. Near its southern end stands a great stone archway from 1540. The path is flat and easy, and children love counting the animals. As of November 2026, restoration work has put construction barriers around parts of the Sacred Way, including the Great Palace Gate and the stele pavilion, and visitors follow signed detours around them; the works are scheduled to run into mid-2027.
Changling
Changling is the oldest and largest tomb, built for the Yongle Emperor, the same emperor who built the Forbidden City. Its highlight is Ling’en Hall, the hall of sacrifice, which is built on the same scale as the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. The roof rests on columns of nanmu, each one a single trunk more than a meter in diameter, and the dim interior smells faintly of old wood.
Dingling
Dingling, the tomb of the Wanli Emperor, is the only Ming tomb ever formally excavated, in 1956. You descend into its underground palace, a series of stone-vaulted chambers where white marble thrones were set out for the emperor and his two empresses. It is cool and damp down there in every season, so bring a jacket even in summer. There are stairs down and back up, so take them slowly.
Zhaoling
Zhaoling is the quiet one: a tomb of walled courtyards and halls set against the hills.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Tickets, hours and concessions (as of November 2026)
| Site | November–March | April–October |
|---|---|---|
| Dingling | CNY 40 (about US$6) | CNY 60 (about US$9) |
| Changling | CNY 30 (about US$4.50) | CNY 45 (about US$7) |
| Zhaoling | CNY 20 (about US$3) | CNY 30 (about US$4.50) |
| Sacred Way | A modest fee | A modest fee |
Each site has its own ticket. As of November 2026, tickets are bought online in advance under each visitor’s real name, choosing the date, through the Changping Culture and Tourism Group’s WeChat mini-program; on our tours we book them for you. The sites open 8:30–16:30 from November to March and 8:30–17:30 from April to October.
- Free: visitors aged 60 and over with valid ID (bring your passport; the rule does not name passports, so we confirm when booking), children 6 and under or 1.2 m and under, and visitors with disabilities.
- Half price: full-time students aged 6 to 25, at bachelor level or below.
Current prices and rules are on Beijing’s official ticketing page.
Route, getting there and the Great Wall pairing
A route that flows
The classic order is Sacred Way, then Dingling, then Zhaoling, then Changling. Some people prefer Sacred Way, Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling; either works, because the sites are a short drive apart. If time is short, choose the Sacred Way, Changling and Dingling. That trio covers the sculpture, the great hall and the underground palace, and half a day is enough for it.
Getting there
By car, the tombs are about 45–50 km from central Beijing, roughly an hour in normal traffic. The sites are spread across the valley, so a car makes the day much simpler: your driver waits at each one and moves you on when you’re ready. By public transport, bus 872 runs from Deshengmen, or you can take the Changping Line metro and then a local bus or shuttle.
Pairing it with the Great Wall
The Ming Tombs and the Great Wall are one of Beijing’s classic day trips, because both lie to the north of the city. Badaling and Juyongguan are the usual partners, and after the steps on the wall, the flat Sacred Way is an easy walk. Our guide to Great Wall tours compares the sections and the drive times.
When to go
Spring blossom and autumn color are the best times to walk the Sacred Way. Winter is dry and cold, so dress warmly; Dingling’s underground palace stays cool all year. The tombs also make a good Monday choice, when the Forbidden City is closed.
Visiting on a private tour
The Ming Tombs are one of the Day 4 afternoon choices in our 4-day private Beijing tour, after a morning at the Lama Temple. You have a private car or van with a driver, just your group, and an English-speaking guide who can tell you whose tomb is whose as you walk. There are no shopping stops, and you can linger on the Sacred Way or skip a tomb if you’ve seen enough. Before or after, the Forbidden City guide shows where the Yongle Emperor lived; for more ideas, see things to do in Beijing.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ming Tombs can you visit?
Four sites are open: the Sacred Way, Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling. Changling has the great Ling'en Hall, Dingling has the excavated underground palace, and the Sacred Way is lined with 18 pairs of stone figures and animals carved in 1435.
How much are Ming Tombs tickets?
As of November 2026, in the November to March season Dingling costs CNY 40, Changling CNY 30 and Zhaoling CNY 20. From April to October they cost CNY 60, 45 and 30. The Sacred Way charges a modest fee. Tickets are bought online in advance under your real name.
Are the Ming Tombs free for seniors?
Yes. Visitors aged 60 and over enter free with valid ID. The rule does not name passports, so bring yours and we confirm when booking. Children 6 and under or 1.2 m and under, and visitors with disabilities, also enter free. Full-time students aged 6 to 25 pay half price.
How far are the Ming Tombs from Beijing?
About 45 to 50 km north of central Beijing, in Changping District, roughly an hour by car in normal traffic. By public transport, take bus 872 from Deshengmen, or the Changping Line metro and then a local bus or shuttle.
Do I need to book Ming Tombs tickets in advance?
Yes. As of November 2026, tickets for each site are bought online in advance under your real name, through the Changping Culture and Tourism Group's WeChat mini-program. On our tours we book them for you. The sites open 8:30 to 16:30 from November to March and 8:30 to 17:30 from April to October.
How long do you need at the Ming Tombs?
Half a day is enough for the main sites. If time is short, see the Sacred Way, Changling and Dingling, which give you the stone sculpture, the great hall and the underground palace. Many visitors combine the tombs with the Great Wall the same day.
What should I wear to Dingling?
Bring a jacket, even in summer. Dingling's underground palace is cool and damp all year. Comfortable shoes help too, because you walk down stairs into the vaults and back up again.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.