In front of imperial mausoleums throughout China, there is usually a Sacred Way or “divine road” leading to the tombs. Of all the Sacred Ways, the one leading to the Ming Tombs is the best-preserved and most skillfully carved of their kind. It was believed that the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, would return to Heaven through this road.
Set on a backdrop of peaceful willow trees, the path is lined on both sides with intricately carved stone statues which were erected during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). These statues form a “guard of honor” for the resting emperors and include a total of 12 human and 24 animal figures, each with their own symbolic significance. The entrance of the Sacred Way contains a stone memorial archway, the oldest and largest stone archway still standing in China today.