Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

The Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang may be known to the world, yet the nearby tomb the 7000 statues were guarding is still yet to be unearthed. Lying 22 miles east of the huge central city of Xi'an, the mausoleum took over 700,000 conscripts around 36 years to complete; from 246 - 210 BC, just in time for Qin's death.

Indeed the mausoleum precinct is huge; measuring 2100 x 975m and containing four pits which were excavated and lined with bricks. Three of these held the famous warriors, numbering 7000 infantry, 130 chariots with horses and 110 cavalry horses. The human statues range from 5'8" to 6'6", emphasising their lifelike appearance. Human remains also lie in the vaults; the rumour being that they were the craftsmen, held inside to prevent them talking about their deeds. Even the location of the site is specifically important: the snaking of the Wei river is said to be shaped like a Chinese dragon; the mausoleum located in its eye.

The mausoleum was then forgotten and left to rot until 1974, when a group of well-diggers stumbled upon the site. A large steel hall was then erected over the site and excavation began. Today much of the mausoleum is still undiscovered; the army is only one part of the complex.

Images

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