statues of the Honor Guard along the Sacred Way leading to the Ming Tombs

These tombs are a collection of mausoleums serving as the final resting places for 13 of the 16 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 to 1644. The Ming Tombs are located at the foot of Tianshou Mountain, about 50 kilometers north of Beijing. The Sacred Way is a long, straight avenue leading to the imperial tombs and begins at the Great Red Gate, one of the largest stone archways in China. The statues, known as the “Stone Statue Groups,” include figures of officials, generals, and animals, intended to protect the tombs and symbolize imperial power. The entire complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was designed according to feng shui principles.