Zhaoling Mausoleum

Ming Zhaoling is located at the eastern foot of Dayu Mountain in Changping District, Beijing, next to Dingling. It is the joint burial mausoleum of Zhu Zaihou, the twelfth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his three queens. The scale of Zhaoling is medium-sized among the thirteen tombs, but compared with the treasure city model of Tailing and Kangling, it is more exquisite and spectacular. Its sacred road branches from the north to the west of the seven empty bridges of Changling sacred road, and is about 2 kilometers long. A stele pavilion was built near the mausoleum, and three parallel single empty stone bridges were built behind the pavilion. The overall layout of the mausoleum is in the form of front and back circle. There are two courtyards in front of the treasure city, and the corridor under the square city has five Leng'en Halls and side halls, and three Leng'en Gates. A major feature of Zhaoling is that it was the first to form a complete "dumb courtyard" system. The earth in the treasure city is particularly full, almost as high as the treasure city wall. A rammed earth tomb is built in the middle, and a brick wall is used to block the earth in front of it. It is connected to the inner wall of the treasure city on both sides of the square city, forming a closed crescent-shaped courtyard. Now we go to Zhaoling, where we can see the restored Ling'en Hall, Ling'en Gate, two side halls, the stele pavilion for divine merit and virtue, the slaughter pavilion, the kitchen for gods, the storehouse for gods, etc. In addition, the left and right side halls are respectively equipped with the "Exhibition of Historical Materials of Emperors and Empresses of Zhaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty" and the "Exhibition of Historical Materials of Imperial Tombs of Ming Dynasty", which introduce the deeds of Zhu Zaihou and his three queens and concubines, as well as the burial regulations of princes and concubines of Ming Dynasty.