13 Ming Tombs (13 tombs in Ming Dynasty)
This is the burial place of 13 out of 17 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1633. It is located 50 miles away from downtown about one hour driving. This site was chosen following the principles of fengshui. At present, there are only two tombs which have been dug and open to the public: Dingling Tomb and Changling Tomb. Dingling Underground Palace was built for Emperor Wanli (1563- 1620) and his two empresses. Changling is the head and the largest tomb of Ming Tombs, where Emperor Yongle (the first emperor in Beijing) and his Empress Xu were buried.
How to go there:
Travel Time: 2 hours
Tourist Bus Route: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ticket Fees as below:
Changling Tomb: RMB 30 (Nov.01 to Mar.31) / RMB 45 (Apr.01 to Oct.31)
Dingling Tomb: RMB 40 (Nov.1 to Mar.31) / RMB 60 (Apr.1 to Oct.31)
Opening Time: Changling Tomb: 08:30 to 17:30 / Dingling Tomb: 08:30 to 18:00
Hutong (Shichahai Area)
The neighborhoods of narrow, twisting streets represent the real life of ordinary Beijingers, where passageways – small narrow ways link to courtyards of traditional connected homes. In today's well preserved old Beijing hutong areas, you can still find a man-driving Pedicab, old transportation tool which is still kept for tourists as the typical traffic tool of travelling the hutong.
Rickshaw tours of the hutongs consist of the sites that normally include the Drum Tower, courtyard neighbourhoods and Prince Gong's Building. There are many small restaurants, bars and inns. Ascending the top of the Bell Tower you can have a bird's eye view of the surrounding hutongs. The most intriguing part of the hutong travel is wandering through "Pipe Tobacco Alley" close to the Bell Tower. In the "Pipe Tobacco Alley", you will feel you are back to the years of old Beijing.
How to go there:
Two Areas for Hutong Exploring:
Shichahai Area: north of Beihai Park
Dazhalan Area: south of Tiananmen Square
Rickshaw: RMB 50-100
