TRAVEL JOURNAL: Ming Tombs, Shisanling, China, PRC.

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Travel Journal, Ming Tombs, Shisanling, PRC. 2005

The following photo journal captures our full day tour from Mings Tombs to the Great Wall in Badaling – the most developed, restored area/region of the Great Wall – within close proximity to the capital city, Beijing.

Our tour guide, Mei from the Peninsula Beijing, alerts us after only a short 1 hour drive north of Beijing, that we have arrived at the Ming Tomb grounds. Luckily, both Mandarin and English were written to guide visitors of their vist to the 15th-17th century tombs. Sep05

Mei is already beginning her tour while we are both distracted from the immense structure in front of us, the 3 arched main gate, or “Great Red Gate” which leads onto the Ming Dynasty Tombs grounds.

Here we stand together while Mei, our tour guide, takes this shot of us in front of the feng shui designed Ming structure behind us. Sep05

Before our ascent, Mei takes a photo of us.

Thankfully another Mandarin-English translated text describing the Ming Dynasty tombs and why this 40 km site in the Jundu mountains was chosen.

While another tour is in progress, I stand behind to observe the sitting emperor Yongle which houses inggets/gold nuggets as currency or bartar.

In background, protective glass houses the gold nuggets, rare pure jade and porcelain along with swords and tools used during the 15th century Ming dynasty.

Here are both gold and porcelain pottery used during the Ming empire.

Guided through a series of courtyards and arched entryways, the final ascent leads to the Ming Lou (bright tower) offering a more panoramic view of the Jinshu mountains.