Located in the west of the Ming Tombs, the Zhaoling Tomb (zhāo líng 昭陵) takes up an area of 35000 square meters. It is the tomb where the twelfth emperor of the Ming Dynasty Zhu Zaihou (zhū zài hòu 朱载垕) and his three empresses were buried. This is the third Ming Tomb to have been restored in the Imperial Ming Tombs Valley. 

First built in 1538, the surface structure of the tomb has since then undergone occasional repairs. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the tomb was restored completely to its original appearance in 1989. The overall arrangement of the Zhaoling Tomb is two square courtyards in the front, and the longitudinal oval treasure city at the back built in accordance with the natural topography of the location.

The restoration of the tomb by the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau started in 1985 and it was completed in October, 1989. The tomb was built in the 16th century. Damaged in wars and eroded by 400 years of wind and rain, most of the above-ground structures of the tomb have been destroyed or fallen into disrepair. The restoration of the main buildings of Zhaoling -Ling' en Hall (líng ēn diàn 祾恩殿) and Ling'en Gate (líng ēn mén 祾恩门)- required a large quantity of 12 to 14-metres-long and one-metre-diameter giant logs for their columns and cross beams. However, these large-sized logs were not available in China.
Learning of this particular requirement, ITT Rayonier, a subsidiary of ITT Corporation of the United States offered to donate lumber to the restoration. Today, 144 Douglas fir and hemlock trees more than 300 years old from the Pacific coast of the United States were used for the project. The Wood Import and Export Company of the China National Native Produce and Animal By-products Import and Export Corporation offered to transport those "Friendship logs" free of charge.

To honor the generous contributions to the Zhaoling restoration project by ITT Rayonier and China TUHSU, the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau and the Imperial Ming Tombs Special Zone Office have erected a monument facing the tomb to commemorate the friendship between the peoples of China and the United States. 

Admission fee: (April 1 to October 31): 30 Yuan; 
                       (November 1 to March 31): 20 Yuan
Opening hours: 8:30-17:00
Transportation: From Desehengmen (德胜门) bus station take Bus #345 支(zhi) to Changping Dongguan (昌平东关), then take bus #22 which stops 200 meters away from Zhaoling. 

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