The picture is a scroll. Departure of the Emperor

(5)
The Valley of the Tombs is closed by mountains on three sides and is open from the south to the Peking Plain, and the road leading to the tombs is guarded by Tiger Hill on the left and Dragon Hill on the right. It was a forbidden place for everyone except those allowed to contain it. It was not allowed here to cultivate the land, cut wood and take stones for construction.
A Memorial Arch was erected to mark the main entrance to the valley in 1540. The structure, 12 meters high and 31 meters wide, testifies to the fact that the emperors did not spare any money in order to decorate their last journey.

This is followed by the Great Red Gate, built in 1426. At this point, the visitors had to dismount and go further on their own. Upon reaching the Pavilion of Steles, supported by four columns, one could see the largest stone stele in China, on which the names of all the departed emperors were carved. After finishing in 1435, it rests on four mythical turtles - a symbol of longevity.

The mythical Trail of the Spirits opens behind the pavilion. Those who carried the sacrifice walked along the central path, the emperor walked to the left of the center of the path, and officials to the right.
The construction of the road was started by the same Zhu Di in 1435. This is the main, common part of the road for all 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty.

The Sacred Path is opened by two columns, which are called Wangju in Chinese. The columns are hexagonal, covered with stone patterns in the form of clouds, and decorated with dragons on top. Behind the columns are stone animals in pairs: lions, then sechji - mythical creatures from the feline family, which were believed to be able to recognize good and bad. Then there are camels, elephants, cilini - other unreal animals with a scaly body and deer antlers and, finally, horses. After the road turns slightly, statues of people begin: four military men, four officials and four ministers - a total of twelve.
It was believed that the animals and people depicted in the sculptures would serve the dead in the next world, whose bodies were carried along this path during funeral ceremonies. Therefore, this road has a second name - the Path of the Spirits.
The Sacred Path ends with the Dragon Gate and or the Heavenly Gateway. They symbolized the nobility of monarchical power.