Ming Dynasty Tombs

The tombs of the Ming Dynasty were included in the UNESCO list in 2000, and they represent an important part of Chinese history. They are located about 50km north of Beijing - outside of the inhabited area. Even on arrival at the tomb, which dominates the whole complex, is very impressive. The road is lined with animal sculptures that act as the guardians of the dead. Throughout the whole area there are plenty of memorial sculptures, which are often enormously huge. A very famous one, for example, is a fifty-ton dragon tortoise carrying a stone block on its back.