Dingling Underground Palace
Dingling Underground Palace
3.5
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3.5
85 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
27
Average
27
Poor
5
Terrible
3
paul g
Brisbane, Australia808 contributions
Oct 2016
I didn’t come here with any firm ideas of what to see and was well educated by the time I left which really made it worthwhile. The tour necessarily involved quite a bit of stair walking, as thought it may, but the sights underground were worth it: quite a simple layout and nothing too extravagant. The information given by the guide was great and provided real insight into Emperor Wan Li and the times of his reign. The grounds surrounding the tombs are well worth exploring and refreshments are available, including the largest apples I have ever seen.
Written 11 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Salamandrine
33 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
We visited the underground palace and the Sacred Way following a trip to Mutianyu, and, whilst the site was impressive and certainly an important stop off, the lack of signage and information in the epicentre of the site (the actual underground section), was a tad disappointing. However, the outside section was well signed, and the site and facilities were certainly well maintained.
Written 9 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Californiamama145
Riverside, CA721 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
We visited this tomb on our way to see the great wall. It had an interesting underground tomb/palace to see. There wasn’t as much to see In the underground tomb but the grounds were impressive with lots to see.
Written 1 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
technocleric
Los Angeles, CA161 contributions
The ride from Beijing was long and the reward was short! Lots of walking, lots of stairs, nothing to see. Experince was summed up by signs along the pathway to the underground "palace." It read "Luxurient grass field. Do not trample." Behind the signs are dirt lots with intermitant weeds. Not a blade of grass, luxurient or otherwise to be found! Underground you get jostled by crowds of people in a small space. It's dirty and ventilation is sorely lacking. And all you really get to see are red box replicas of the tombs and treasure chests. Two words. Don't bother!
Written 29 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moramare
Amstelveen, The Netherlands469 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
On our way back from the wall we ended up visiting this site of the Ming tombs. We might have settled on the wrong one but were just not impressed. We expected a similar experience as visiting the graves in Luxor but well, nothing like it. The underground palace is nice and cool ( a bonus on a hot summer day) but empty. Yes, there were 3 thrones and yes, there we 3 red boxes that were replicas of the coffins but that was all there was to see. Not worth the detour!
Written 23 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roving_Bill
London, UK450 contributions
Oct 2017
The Ming tombs are a historically fascinating collection of buildings from China's past. Nestled in a huge parkland area that is now rather built over, they are nonetheless quite awe-inspiring. The Dingling is one of (i think) 13 tombs to visit in the area.
The underground palace is huge and represents an enormous investment for its time. However, it is almost completely empty so your imagination has to fill the gap. Quiet and empty, this remains an excellent and compelling place to visit. 5* for its historical importance; 5* for its thought-provoking qualities; 3* because there is little left from the contents of the tomb to inform you about it
The underground palace is huge and represents an enormous investment for its time. However, it is almost completely empty so your imagination has to fill the gap. Quiet and empty, this remains an excellent and compelling place to visit. 5* for its historical importance; 5* for its thought-provoking qualities; 3* because there is little left from the contents of the tomb to inform you about it
Written 25 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jodi R
Inverleigh, Australia268 contributions
Sept 2017 • Family
We visited here on the way to the Great Wall. This is the underground tomb of Emperor Wan Li. There really isn't that much to see! We entered the tomb, walked down some stairs, saw a few big red coffins and 2 stone thrones and that was about it!
The area is quite pretty and the toilets were clean. We were only there for about 30 min.
The area is quite pretty and the toilets were clean. We were only there for about 30 min.
Written 26 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ong Z
29 contributions
Sept 2017 • Family
Frankly the amount of artefacts are so limited, I might as well just read it online.
Disappointing trip, wasted money and time spend
Suggestion: Just spend your day at Great Wall of Badaling
Disappointing trip, wasted money and time spend
Suggestion: Just spend your day at Great Wall of Badaling
Written 10 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FEtravellor
Incheon, South Korea478 contributions
Oct 2015
The trip to the tomb was part of a 30 price I paid for a trip to the Wax Museum and Great Wall.
It is a long walk from the car park to the main entrance followed by another long walk to a 20th century flight of steps down (if I remember correctly) 5 levels. I wished they had constructed a lift while I was bleating to myself "Is that how I would be getting back to ground level????" Haha.
Before you start to accuse me of being a spoilt old fox, you have to be informed that I am 57 years old with arthritis on both knees. Which means that people with a similar or worse health condition than mine would find the descend tough and the ascend very tough.
The coffins were rather boxy, painted red, and quite unexpectedly plain, considering that the ancient Chinese had been very artistic about almost everything they built. It made me think that in death, not even an emperor could sleep in style, despite the huge amount of silk and various objects placed inside the tomb (all were removed save for a few - replicas???- here and there)
There was a small museum on the left when you enter, or right when you leave. Inside are various objects and paintings - not really many - which would not have been out of place at any other Chinese museum.
It is a long walk from the car park to the main entrance followed by another long walk to a 20th century flight of steps down (if I remember correctly) 5 levels. I wished they had constructed a lift while I was bleating to myself "Is that how I would be getting back to ground level????" Haha.
Before you start to accuse me of being a spoilt old fox, you have to be informed that I am 57 years old with arthritis on both knees. Which means that people with a similar or worse health condition than mine would find the descend tough and the ascend very tough.
The coffins were rather boxy, painted red, and quite unexpectedly plain, considering that the ancient Chinese had been very artistic about almost everything they built. It made me think that in death, not even an emperor could sleep in style, despite the huge amount of silk and various objects placed inside the tomb (all were removed save for a few - replicas???- here and there)
There was a small museum on the left when you enter, or right when you leave. Inside are various objects and paintings - not really many - which would not have been out of place at any other Chinese museum.
Written 24 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
estaminet81
Puurs, Belgium173 contributions
Jul 2011 • Friends
Was there with a group of tourists: the place is nice if not too misty, surrounded by mountains, very green place.
The palace itself has some nice gates and columns, dated 17th century.
The underground itself is very disapppointing, you have to go fast because it is crowded, the original coffins are replaced by copy red boxes, all you can see are the 3 thrones of the emperor and empresses.
not much time to spend here, but good before visiting the Great Wall.
The palace itself has some nice gates and columns, dated 17th century.
The underground itself is very disapppointing, you have to go fast because it is crowded, the original coffins are replaced by copy red boxes, all you can see are the 3 thrones of the emperor and empresses.
not much time to spend here, but good before visiting the Great Wall.
Written 25 July 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can I visit the underground palace alone along with Mutianyu wall or should I take a tour? I am used to travelling alone but not sure what to do in this case. Any info would be helpful. I will be in Beijing from october 9 until the 14th
Written 8 September 2015
I would advice that you get a guide or join a tour especially for dingling. There are certain explanation, rituals like how to leave the place that you wouldn't be able to know on your own. The great Wall you can do on your own.
Written 9 September 2015
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