Matteo Ricci's tomb (利玛窦陵墓) is located two miles from the west gate of the Beijing city. Ricci died in Beijing in June 1610 at the age of 58. According to the code of the Ming Dynasty, foreigners who died in China had to be buried in Macao. The Jesuits made a special plea to the court, requesting a burial plot in Beijing in view of Ricci' s contributions to China. Emperor Wanli (万历) of the Ming Dynasty granted his permission and designated a Buddhist temple, which had been appropriated from a court eunuch for the purpose. The tomb is of the shape of a small hill. The title on the tomb reads, '1610, Pioneer of Christian Missionary'. There is a cross carved on the tomb with inscription in both Latin and Chinese. On the two sides are the tombs of Ferdinand Verbiest, and Jojann Adam Scall von Bell. Due to Ricci's achievements in China, Chinese regard the tomb highly and has been doing a good job in up-keeping it and protecting the tomb from vandalism.

Matteo Ricci was born in Macerata, Italy and died in Peking, China. Against his father's wishes, who forbade any talk of religious topics around the home, Matteo Ricci entered the Jesuits. At the end of his training he was assigned to the China Mission, and arrived there in 1583, where he worked for 27 years. Eventually he was welcomed to the academies and gained many influential friendships. He opened a residence in Nanking (南京) for himself, his fellow Jesuits and his scientific instruments. Later he became the court mathematician in Peking.

Address: 6 chegongzhuang ( 车公庄) Ave.C.C.P.Beijing Central Committee School Office.

Tel：010-8323355 Tel. 010-8323355

BUS: Take 107, 118, 19, 26, 392, 4, 685, 701, 812, and get off at Three Temples Stop ( 三塔寺站)

To visit the graveyard, prior arrangements have to be made through a tour guide through the office of the Catholic Patriotic Association.