China: Beijing: Eunuch Tombs

What's the most interesting thing to see in Beijing?  Silly question--what's your favorite color? what's your favorite number?--but one answer is Tianyi Mu, a relic of Beijing's once much more extensive eunuch cemeteries.  The tombs here are exceedingly derivative--shamelessly imitative miniatures of the imperial tombs.  Still, they're ignored, which makes them feel like graveyards, instead of monuments on the tourist circuit.

This is Tianyi Mu, established in 1600.  It's 12 miles straight west from Tian'anmen.  Shortly after the road finally bends right to avoid a steel mill, you'll want to take a right turn.  The cemetery will soon be on your left, at the toe of a very modest hill.