Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
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How it came to be
The tombs of the Ming and Qing emperors of China were built between 1368 and 1915 in Beijing and in Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu and Liaoning provinces. Sited by feng shui between mountains and water, they are decorated with stone statues, carvings and dragon-patterned tiles.
Hongwu, the first Ming emperor, changed the form of the tomb mound from square to round or oblong; his Xiaoling tomb is part of the site. Besides the thirteen Ming tombs near Beijing, the Xianling tomb in Hubei was built from 1519 to 1566. The Qing set their own tombs near those of the Ming, signalling respect for Han Chinese tradition.
The Xianling tomb and the Eastern and Western Qing tombs were inscribed in 2000. The Xiaoling tomb and the Ming tombs of Beijing were added in 2003, and in 2004 the Yongling, Fuling and Zhaoling tombs at Shenyang, built in the 17th century for the founders of the Qing and their ancestors.
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