Part 7/11:

Though Beijing officially banned the use of the underground shelters as housing, the persistent issue of affordable living has kept many residents trapped in these dilapidated spaces, echoing the complex narrative surrounding the underground city.

The Imperial History Beneath

Delving further beneath the surface reveals the imperial grandeur of the Dingling Tomb, the only excavated tomb among the 13 Ming Dynasty tombs in the region. At a depth of 27 meters, this elaborate burial site epitomizes the architectural feats of its time, with a structure that reflects traditional Chinese beliefs in the afterlife.