Zhu Di, who had been stationed in Beijing for several years, became emperor in 1403 after toppling his nephew emperor. Four years later, he began constructing Beijing, and in 1421 he moved his capital there from Nanjing. When his empress died in 1407, he dispatched surveyors to Beijing to select a suitable burial site, having long planned a move to the north. After two years of reconnaissance, and Zhu Di's personal inspection and approval, the present site was determined. The area has mountains on three sides, and is rich in fertile soil and water resources, as well as being advantageous in terms of military strategy. Zhu Di decreed immediately that 40 square kilometers be enclosed as a reserve for the imperial burial grounds. In 1409, construction of the Changling Mausoleum began at the foot of Mount Tianshou, and was completed in 1427, and for the next 200 years, construction of imperial tombs ensued on this site.

A vermilion wall encircles the tomb area, and the point of entry is a vermilion front gate that opens to the south. A kilometer south of the gate is a stone archway, 12 meters tall, supported by six columns from which five walkways emanate. The first structure to the north of the front gate is a pavilion, housing a nine-meter-tall stone stele. Further north is the 800-meter-long Divine Path, flanked by 24 large stone animals and 12 stone human figures. This path leads to various tombs.

The area called the Thirteen Ming Tombs comprises 13 separate tombs, each one built at the foot of a hill, with very little variation in design. The tombs are each surrounded by their own dark-red walls. The memorial hall immediately through the gate to each tomb is for worship, and at the rear is an earth mound containing the tomb, girdled by brick walls, named Treasure City. In between stands a memorial tower for the deceased, in front of which are arranged a stone incense burner, two stone vases and two stone candle holders, popularly known as the "five sacrificial utensils."

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