TouchBeijing.com » Changping http://www.touchbeijing.com Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:38:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Sacred Way of Ming Tomb http://www.touchbeijing.com/sacred-way-of-ming-tomb/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/sacred-way-of-ming-tomb/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=796

At the southern end of the Ming Tombs area is a large memorial archway called Pailou. Built in 1540, it is now a monumental construction, built of white marble with five arches. Six rectangular pillars support it with beautiful bas-relief carvings (lions, dragons, lotus flowers). It is 14 metres hith and 28.86 metres wide.

One kilometre north of the archway is the main gate of the mausoleum area-the main gate of the palace called the Great Red Gate. two tablets used to be placed on both sides of the gate which said: “Dignitaries, officials and other persons arriving here must dismount from their horses.”

The central entrance was reserved for the body of the dead emperor alone, the living emperor had to use the left entrance when he came to pay homage to their ancestors. One more kilometre north of the main gate of the palace is a stele pavilion, on the back of the stele marble was engraved resume of Zhu Di, the emperor of Chenzu of the Ming Dynasty and on the upper front was engraved characters. “Stele of Divine Merit and Sacred Virtue, Changling, Great Ming”. The stele is carried on a marble tortoise, which, according to Chinese Legend, is the Son of Dragon, which the emperor called himself.

Around the Pavilion are four Ornamental Pillars built with the same mythical beast on the tops, which face either inward or outward, which means hoping the emperor not to cling to the palace or not to forget to return to the Palace to handle state affairs.

Going inward from the stele Pavilion is the 3.5 Km long Sacred Way, which means the road leading to Heaven. The emperor, known as the Son of Heaven went through the sacred road to the sacrificial altar to converse Heaven during his reign, naturally, after his death, he would also go through the Sacred Way back to heaven.

Alongside the Sacred Way are 18 pairs of marble figures lined up in antithesis, these marble figures, sculptured from whole stones, were erected over 500 years ago, the traditional way of putting over marble figures as guard of honour in front of the mausoleum began in the Han Dynasty which signified the dignity of the emperor, symbolising the good fortune and warding off evil influence.

This Sacred Way starts with two hexagonal columns called Wang Zhu on either side, they are carved with a cloud design. Their tops are shaped like a rounded cylinder.

Then follow, one on each side, lions, xie zhi (a mythical beast of feline family, with a mane and a horn on its head), camels, elephants, Qilin (a kind of imaginary animal with a scaly body, a cow’s tail, deer’s hooves and, horns on its head), horses. All these six animals are two kneeling, two standing, 12 animals on each side and 24 animals in all. They were supposed to change guards at midnight.

A slight turn of the Sacred Way leads to the human statues. Even this slight turn is in conformity with the principle of Feng Shui (winds of heaven and the waters of earth). On each side stand two generals, two civil officials and two “retired” government officials, 6 on each side, and 12 in all. They are larger-than-life-size human statues.

The avenue of stone animals and statues ends at Ling Xing Gate, better known as the Dragon and Phoenix Gate.

But the Sacred Way goes on beyond the Dragon and Phoenix Gate towards the chief tomb-Changling, emperor Yongle’s tomb.

  • Download the Google Earth KMZ file to locate this place
  • Ticket: RMB 20 Yuan




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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/sacred-way-of-ming-tomb/feed/ 1 Zhu Di’s Changling Tomb at Ming Tombs http://www.touchbeijing.com/zhu-dis-changling-tomb-at-ming-tombs/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/zhu-dis-changling-tomb-at-ming-tombs/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:43:04 +0000 admin http://www.touchbeijing.com/?p=1778
Stone carving at Changling.


The location of Changling Tomb.


Emperor Yongle

Changlingcovers an area of 120,000 square meters, where buried Ming Emperor Zhudi and his Empress Xu. The construction began in 1409 AD and completed in 18 years, it is the central, largest and the best preserved mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty Tombs.

Zhu D (朱棣)i was the 4th son of Zhu Yuangzhang (the first emperor of Ming dynasty), initially Zhu Di was made a prince entitled the “the King of Yan” guarding Yanjing (today’s Beijing) possessing a heavy military base in Beijing, and his eldest brother Zhu Biao was made the Crown Prince. In 1392, the latter died at the age of 38 before ascending to the throne.

In 1399, after the first emperor’s death, the throne was past down to the son of the Crown Prince. The young Emperor Jian (建文帝) proved to be too weak in politics and military action, it took only 4 years that he was droven away from the throne, During the final attack of the Capital Nanjing, Emperor Jianwen ‘s palace caught fire, the emperor and his wife disappeared mysteriously, people believed most likely they died in the fire, though their corpses came to be nowhere.

Zhu Di had ended Jianwen’s reign. Zhu Di and his administration spent the latter part of 1402 brutally purging China of Jianwen’s supporters, and he was credited with ordering perhaps the only case of “extermination of the ten agnates” in the history of China.

In order to establish himself as legitimate successor of the regime, he also ordered all records of the four-year-reign of Jianwen Emperor to be dated as year 32 through year 35 of the Hongwu Emperor.

Though in the end, Zhudi came to the throne at Nanjing reign-titled as “Yongle” (literarlly “Perpetual Happiness”), his usurpation of the throne made him somewhat ‘unfit’ in the old capital, in the year 1421, after a brand new capital constructed at his order, he moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Most of  Beijing’s layout shaped based upon his design.

Also Emperor Yongle had the Grand Canal of China repaired and reopened in order to supply the new capital of Beijing in the north with a steady flow of goods and southern foodstuffs.

Emperor Yongle sponsored the massive and long term Zheng He (郑和) expeditions. These were China’s only major sea-going explorations of the world, some scholars believe behingd these overseas expedition there were attempts of tracing the mysterously disappeared Emperor Jianwen.

Yongle sponsored and created many cultural traditions in China. He promoted Confucianism and kept traditional ritual ceremonies with a rich cultural theme. His respect for Chinese culture was apparent. He commissioned his Grand Secretary, Xie Jin, to write a compilation of every subject and every known book of the Chinese. The massive project’s goal was to preserve Chinese culture and literature in writing. The initial copy took 17 months to transcribe and another copy was transcribed in 1557. The book, named the Yongle Encyclopedia (永乐大典), is still considered one of the most marvelous human achievements.

Many have seen Yongle as in a life-long pursuit of power, prestige, he is remembered very much for his cruelty. According to historical records, even in his mausoleum at Changling, 16 lifes were sacrificed for martyrdom.

Emperor Yongle reigned the Ming for 22 years.(1403-1424)

The Changling Tomb

The architecture in Changling are of magnificence, especially the Ling’En Hall, the architecture style of which is identical to that of the Supreme Harmony Hall in the Forbidden City. Ling’En Hall represented the highest architecture and artistic level of Ming dynasty. The beams, columns and trusses are all made of Nanmu, Nanmu is a species of plant in the Lauraceae family, which is endemic to China, it is now threatened by habitat loss. The diameter of internal columns are even more than 1 meter. Nanmu columns of such a big size are rarely found all over the world. This palace has been maintained quite well up to now and it represents a typical architectural style of the Ming dynasty.

For its indisputable charm and great historical and artistic value, Changling was inscribed into the World Heritage Organization Catalogue by UNESCO on 3rd of July, 2003.

朱棣小传

大明成祖文皇帝，諱棣，太祖第四子也，母孝慈高皇后。洪武三年封燕王。十三年，之藩北平。

二十三年，棣討乃兒不花，獲其全部而還，太祖大喜，是後屢帥諸將出征，並令棣節制沿邊士馬，威名大振。

三十一年閏五月，太祖崩，皇太孫即位，時諳王以尊屬擁重兵，多不法。帝納齊泰、黃子澄謀，欲因事以次削除之，湘、代、齊、岷諸王皆以罪廢。棣自危，佯狂稱疾。

建文元年七月，上書天子指泰、子澄為奸臣，並援《祖訓》「朝無正臣，內有奸惡，則親王訓兵待命，天子密詔諸王統領鎮兵討平之」。書既發，遂舉兵。自署官屬，稱其師曰“靖難”。四年六月，燕兵陷都城，建文帝不知所終。棣升輦，詣奉天殿即皇帝位，下詔以洪武三十五年為紀年，明年改元永樂。

永樂三年六月，遣中官鄭和帥舟師使西洋諸國。

八年正月，成祖親征韃靼，五月，大敗本雅失里師；六月敗阿魯台師。

十二年二月，成祖親征瓦剌，六月，敗瓦剌次忽蘭忽失溫，馬哈木師。

二十年三月，成祖新征阿魯台，發京師，至雞鳴山，阿魯台遁。明年七月，成祖複親征之。二十二年三月，再親征阿魯台，不見敵，六月，糧盡，班師。七月，至榆木川，崩，年六十有五。

明长陵

长陵始建于1409年，历经18年建成。占地12万平方米，是明朝永乐皇帝朱棣与皇后徐氏的合葬陵墓。朱棣是明太祖朱元璋的第四子，初封燕王，镇守燕京。”靖难之变”后，在南京称帝，改元”永乐”。1421年迁都北京，在位22年(1403-1424)。

长陵建筑宏伟，特别是祾恩殿，其建筑风格与故宫太和殿一致。梁、柱、檩全部使用整材金丝楠木，其中立柱的直径都在一米以上，是世间罕见的奇材佳木。此殿保护完好，具有典型明代建筑风格。

长陵2003年7月3日被联合国教科文组织列入”世界遗产名录”。


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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/zhu-dis-changling-tomb-at-ming-tombs/feed/ 1 Ming Tombs http://www.touchbeijing.com/ming-tombs/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/ming-tombs/#comments Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:26:22 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=797

Located at the foot of the Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, Beijing, the Ming Mausoleums, occupying an area of 120 square kilometers, are well preserved and have the biggest number of emperors buried in the world.

Built in the seventh year of the Ming Emperor Yongle’s reign (1409), Changling Tomb of Emperor Chengzu (Zhudi) is the first one among the Ming Mausoleums. It is located in front of the main peak of the Tianshou Mountain, while the other eleven mausoleums built in the Ming Dynasty, including Xianling, Jingling, Yuling, Maoling, Tailing, Kanling, Yongling, Zhaoling, Dingling, Qingling and Deling are founded at the two sides of the Changling Tomb.

Lying at the southwestern corner of the mausoleum area, Siling Tomb of Emperor Chongzhen (Zhu Youjian) is the last-built one among the mausoleums, which was transformed from an imperial concubine’s tomb. Siling Tomb was denominated in the first year of Emperor Shunzhi’ reign (1644) in the Qing Dynasty(1666-1911) and the above-ground buildings were added then. Other affiliated buildings are: seven tombs of the imperial concubine, one eunuch tomb, an Imperial Garden and Traveling Palace in the Ming Dynasty. There used to be ten Pass Towns around the Ming Tombs.

Because part of the buildings within the mausoleum area were destroyed in war in the transition period of the Ming and the Qing dynasties, and such situation went on with more other buildings later, the Qing government renovated the main buildings on a larger scale in 1785-1787.

Peking government of the Republic of China (1912-1949)also repaired the Great Wall nearby in 1935.The underground palace of Dingling Tomb was excavated successfully in 1956-1957.

In 1961, the Ming Tombs were proclaimed as the important cultural relics under state protection. At present, three mausoleums, Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling, and the Sacred Way are open to the public as scenic spots.

Site

Emperor Name

1

 Chang Ling Emperor Zhu Di (1360 -1424)

2

 Xian Ling Emperor Zhu Gaochi (1378 -1425)

3

 Jing Ling Emperor Zhu Zhanji (1399 -1435)

4

 Yu Ling Emperor Zhu Qizhen (1427 -1464)

5

 Mao Ling Emperor Zhu Jianshen (1447 -1487)

6

 Tai Ling Emperor Zhu Youtang (1470 -1505)

7

 Kang Ling Emperor Zhu Houzhao (1491 -1521)

8

 Yong Ling Emperor Zhu Houcong (1507 -1566)

9

 Zhao Ling Emperor Zhu Zaihou (1537 -1572)

10

 Ding Ling Emperor Zhu Yijun (1563 -1620)

11

 Qing Ling Emperor Zhu Changluo (1582 -1620)

12

 De Ling Emperor Zhu Youxiao (1605 -1627)

13

 Si Ling Emperor Zhu Youjian (1610 -1644)

  • Ticket for Ding Ling: RMB 40 Yuan


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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/ming-tombs/feed/ 0 Oct 17,2006. Great Wall at Badaling http://www.touchbeijing.com/oct-172006-great-wall-at-badaling/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/oct-172006-great-wall-at-badaling/#comments Thu, 19 Oct 2006 05:16:26 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=759


Bear Garden at the foot of the Great Wall, to pay 2 Yuan, you may have a try to feed them


A view of the still on-going Statium of 2008 Olympic Games…Bird Nest

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/oct-172006-great-wall-at-badaling/feed/ 0 July 21st, Ming Tombs http://www.touchbeijing.com/july-21st-ming-tombs/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/july-21st-ming-tombs/#comments Sun, 23 Jul 2006 04:26:40 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=752

Entrance of the Ding Tomb, one of the 13 Tombs from the Ming Dynasty

Golden crown from the tomb

DIY peach from the tree

Sacred way, passage way to the Tombs

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/july-21st-ming-tombs/feed/ 0 Great Wall at Water Pass (Shui Guan) http://www.touchbeijing.com/great-wall-at-water-pass-shui-guan/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/great-wall-at-water-pass-shui-guan/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2005 15:56:12 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=784 Shui Guan (Water Pass) is located at Yanqing County, two kms (1.24 miles) away from Badaling Great Wall. Open to pubic in 1995, it is an ideal supplement to the Badaling’s tourist attractions.

Shui Guan (Water Pass), which was first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was an indispensable part of the defense system of Badaling Great Wall. The pass mainly functioned to defend against invaders by the force of torrential water flowing through between the two mountains. It is one of the best preserved sections of the Great Wall of China, which stretches about one thousand meters (0.62 miles). It also has seven enemy towers and an arrow tower which is 15 meters (50 feet) in height and 12 meters (40 feet) in width. Looking out from the arrow tower, you can imagine an ancient battle fields and see the importance of the wall as a defence against invaders.

Other interesting visitor sites located at the foot of Shui Guan are the Memorial Gardens of Chinese Personages, the Stone Buddha Temple, Genghis Khan Palace, and Pet World.

After so many photos beside the Great Wall of Badaling, we hope you can get to know, that the Badaling is not the only place that you can visit the Wall. Oh yes, if you want the see the marching tourists, Badaling could be the best place.

Ticket: 30 Yuan

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/great-wall-at-water-pass-shui-guan/feed/ 0 Commune By the Great Wall http://www.touchbeijing.com/commune-by-the-great-wall/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/commune-by-the-great-wall/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2005 03:10:13 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=783 The Commune by the Great Wall is a Collection ofContemporary Architecture Consisting of Private Houses Designed by 12 of Asias Best-Known Architects.

The Grand Vision is To Encourage Creativity That Will Influence a Whole New Generation of Asian Architects- Developers and Consumers. The Commune Was Honored To Be the First Chinese Architectural Project Invited To La Biennale Di Venezia in Italy. It Received the Special Prize At the Exhibition That Acknowledges the Bold Initiative Ms. Zhang Xin Took in Uniting the Talents of Asian Architects in a Definitively Contemporary Manner.
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At the Shuiguan Section of the Great Wall- The Commune Shares the Tranquility of the Mountains With One of the Worlds Heritage Sites. Eleven Houses and One Clubhouse Are Nestled in a Valley Totaling Eight Square Kilometers. From Downtown Beijing- It is Only a 40-Minute Drive To Reach the Commune- Via the Shuiguan Exit On the Badaling Expressway.

There Are 1 Commune- Each of Which Has Living Room- Dining Room-Kitchen- Bedrooms and Bathrooms. Some of Them Have Sauna Rooms- Rooftops-Terraces or Bbq Facilities. By Staying Overnight At Commune Villas- Guests Can Experience the Unique and Comfortable Lifestyle While Enjoying the Beautiful Nature. We Also Offer 24 Hours Private Butler Service. The Restaurants and Bars in Our Clubhouse Are Set in a Privileged Location of the Valley- Featuring a Beautiful Sunset in the Backdrop of the Magnificent Great Wall. We Offer the Finest Selections of 3 Major Chinese Cuisine- Beijing- Sichuan and Cantonese- Accompanied by Western Dessert- And a Selection of the Best New World Wines and Traditional First Growth Cru-S. Not Only Commune by the Great Wall Provides Comfortable Accommodation and Delicious Food- It is Also a Wonderful Place For Meetings-Events- Weddings- Film Shooting and Fashion Show]. Commune Has a Professional Event Service Team To Make E an Experience To Remember. Quite a Few Internationally.

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]]> http://www.touchbeijing.com/commune-by-the-great-wall/feed/ 0 October 3, Greatwall at Juyongguan http://www.touchbeijing.com/october-3-greatwall-at-juyongguan/ http://www.touchbeijing.com/october-3-greatwall-at-juyongguan/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2005 17:16:39 +0000 admin http://www.touchkunshan.com/backup/?p=769 ,

October 3rd, a very sunny day. A visit to the Great Wall at Juyongguan section. Due to the traffic reason, we changed our sechdule from the Badaling Great Wall to here. The result ? It is abusolutely right, as it is not so crowded, and some steep part of the wall here is very challenging and good for exercise, especially for such a nice day.

JuyongguanPass is located in an 18 kilometer-long valley named “Guangou” which is inside Changping County more than 50 kilometers from Beijing City. It is one of the three greatest passes of Great Wall of China. The other two passes are Jiayuguan Pass and Shanhai Pass.

It had many different names in the past dynasties. However, the name “Juyongguan Pass” was used by more than three dynasties. It was first used in the Qin Dynasty when Emperor Qinshihuang ordered to build the Great Wall. JuyongguanPass has two passes, one at the south and one at the north. The south one is called “Nan Pass” and the north one is called “Badaling”.

This Pass was connected to the Great Wall in the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

The landmark of Juyongguan Pass.


A view of the west part of the wall.


At the??middle way up,??pictures were taken back to where we started.


By the side of this picture, there is a toilet, which is very smelly, as our guests said, “we can smell the history”.


A general view of the east part of the wall.


A picture from one of the Torch Tower.



On a vacation day, lots of visitors came here.


A view to the top.


At the far end of this picture, is Beijing, which is about 50 KM away.


Torch Tower


A view to the mountain from inside the Torch Tower.


In side the Torch Tower.


This is on the way down from the top. It is about 60 degree’s steep.


Do you believe that they want to go to toilet ?

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