Dingling

It use to be poplar to combine a visit at the Great Wall, with a visit some of the Ming Tombs, because they are located "on the way". I have previous written that the only tomb that is a bit special to see is Dingling, 定陵, because this is the only one where the underground tomp is open. The rest 12 is not so interesting since the only thing you can se of the tomb is a big pyramid of stone or soil, even if they are surrounded by a nice park with soma classic building that of course can be a little interesting.

When they during the 50:th dig up the Dingling, they did not know how they should handle the body of the emperor, (Wànlì, 万历), so he more or less directly become rotten together with his cloth when he come in contact with the fresh air. Because of this scandal, no more tombs have been opened.

Even if there is no emperor to see, it is still a very powerful feeling to go down in the tomb. The tomb include several halls, and have suppressing less of decorations. Not as much of all this typical Chinese details that we are used to see. The grave is also located pretty deep below the ground level.

Close to the tomb there is also a museum that very detailed describe the very complex process to open the tomb. The tomb had an advanced looking system that was closed from the inside(!). It was also a risk that the tomb was graded by "Indiana Jones-type" of traps, so the first thing that was done was to let some chicken enter that tomb to see what happened.

Down inside one of the halls in the Dingling tomb. The only Ming Tomb that is oppen.