We had about an hours drive to the Ming Tombs. What a delight! I love bus rides! Ahem! Not like the reason given in the Hazeline Snow advertisement on TV. I'm sure EC knows what I'm talking about. I love bus rides because while you can view the sceneries from the bus, you've also got so much time by yourself thinking about things.

Nearing the Ming Tombs, we passed by orchards, especially apples! The flowers are just blooming so we're not there to witness the fruits season. One of these days I must visit a grape vineyard and apples or oranges orchard. With fruits, of course. I've always dreamed of working as a farmer in an orchard where I could pick fruits to my hearts content.

The Ming Tombs was built by Emperor Qin and dates back to 221-207BC. There are 13 tombs spread around a valley looking like a natural courtyard with an entrance Spirit Way guarded by huge stone animals. At the front entrance, there was a huge stone turtle and everybody touched its backside for good luck!

Only the underground burial chambers of the Dingling tomb of Emperor Wanli (who reigned 1573-1620) are open to the public. To go down the chambers, we had to descend many flights of steps. Down and down we went. At the chambers, you could see money thrown at the protected display areas.

On display in the museums near the tombs are marble thrones, religious regalia and the jewellery, garments, porcelain and curios that were buried with the emperor's corpse (no, we don't get to see the corpse!). I got to see the famous white and blue Ming porcelain pots with dragon pictures.

Again, outside where the bus was waiting there were many peddlars especially selling fruits. Some time back, these peddlars would swarm at tourist and pestering them to buy their goods. Now, they are not allowed to do so. Mr. Wong says one shouldn't be surprised if some of the people around could be plainclothed policemen.

Mom bought lots of pears - really big, the size of your two hands clasped together. Very cheap too. The interesting part is that since the peddlars are not allowed to approach us, our buying is done only when our driver, "Shir Fu" (in Chinese, means master), permits one of them to come into our bus to sell.

However, mom bought too many - about 13 altogether! We ended up having a big pear each for every night! This is because we didn't want to bring it back to Malaysia - quite heavy and also partly we don't want difficulties during the custom check.

Here's some pictorial explanations (no pictures allowed inside the tombs):

The entrance outside of the Ming Tombs.

The scenery from the bus outside Ming Tombs.

The apple orchard - unfortunately not clear.

There's a reservoir in the distance.