Sacred Way

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Apr.-Oct.
8:30-18:00
35 Low Season
Nov.-Mar.
8:30-18:00
25 Address & Phone within Ming Tombs in Northwest Beijing. Transportation Take Buses No 345 or 881 at Desheng Gate West Station and transfer to 314 at Changping Dongguan Crossing Station.
Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantongyuan Station and transfer& Notes

Sacred Way, also named Divine Road or Shen Dao in Chinese, is the first sight in the Ming Tombs. It is the main road leading to the thirteen tombs, which should not be missed when visiting the Ming Tombs in Beijing.

The Sacred Way runs through the mausoleum from south to north, connecting the thirteen tombs in Ming Tombs northwest of Beijing with its 7.3 kilometers length. The stone paved path was firstly built as the Sacred Way of Changling Tomb, the first tomb of the thirteen. As all the twelve tombs were built around Changling Tomb, the Sacred Way became the main one of Ming Tombs and the other tombs’ sacred ways were all branched from it.

Why is it called Sacred Way?

In ancient times, the Emperors in China called themselves the Son of the God in order to consolidate their political power and dominating position. They advocated they came from heaven to through the Sacred Way govern the country in the name of God. Therefore, after their death they would go back to heaven through the Sacred Way. Every imperial tomb has a Sacred Way and among the many, the one in Ming Tombs is best preserved.

Visiting Guide

As the first sight in the Ming Tombs, the Sacred Way starts from a huge Memorial Stone Archway in the south end, followed by the Great Red Gate, the Stele Pavilion, the Stone Statues and Dragon and Phoenix Gate.

Memorial Stone Archway

The Memorial Stone Archway is the first building in front of the Ming Tombs, serving as the preface to the Sacred Way. Initially built in 1540 in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it is the earliest and biggest of its kind in China. The archway has six pillars and five archways engraved with exquisite kylins, lions, dragons and clouds, reflecting the excellent architecture skills of Ming Dynasty stone buildings.

Passing through the Memorial Stone Archway, visitors can see a mound on each side of the Sacred Way. The left one is in the shape of a dragon while the right one a tiger and they guard the front gate of the Ming Tombs imposingly. In Chinese Taoism, dragon on the left and tiger on the right indicate auspicious signs.

Great Red Gate

Great Red Gate is the front gate of the Ming Tombs. Situated in the very south of the mausoleum area it is also called Palace Gate with three archways. Originally, there was a stele on each side of the gate reading “Officials must dismount from horses at here”. Everyone offering sacrifice to the tombs has to walk inside to demonstrate the supremacy of the imperial power. Today, the steles have been destroyed, together with the red walls.

Stele Pavilion

Further on, visitors will find the Stele Pavilion at the center of Sacred Way. A 6-meter tall stone stele stands on the 50-ton tortoise within the pavilion. The stele was built in 1435 with an epigraph indicating the achievement of the third Ming Emperor Zhu Di. At the four corners of the pavilion, there are four tall marble columns named Hubiao in Chinese. Each column is engraved with forty-one dragons with a mythical beast sitting on the top, which reminds the emperors to be diligent and love his people.

Stone Statues

Behind the Stele Pavilion, visitors will find eighteen pairs of stone statues along the Scared Way leading to the Dragon and Phoenix Gate. Among the eighteen pairs, 24 are beasts in six kinds while the other 12 are human beings in three kinds indicating different meanings. Each one has 4, two standing and two kneeling.

Lion is mighty and good at fighting while Xiezhi, the legendary beast in China, can distinguish the evil man. Both of them symbolize the guard of the tombs. The legendary kind animal Kylin shows the auspicious signs. Camel and elephant symbolize loyalty and kindness which can go far under the heavy bear. The horse is good at running and it can be the mount. The human beings are respectively generals, officials and meritorious ministers. The statues signify that the dead emperor still dominates the officials and animals and he can preside over everything.

Dragon and Phoenix Gate

Dragon and Phoenix Gate, also called Lingxing Gate, has three archways formed by four pillars. This gate marks the end of the Sacred Way and the start of Changling Tomb in Ming Tombs. Visitors can also visit Dingling Tomb and Zhaoling Tomb.

Beijing Culture