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Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is located in the eastern suburbs of Lintong County, 35 kilometers (22 miles) east of Xian. According to traditional Chinese geomancy, the site was chosen between the Li Mountain to the south and the Wei River to the north. It is the first and largest imperial mausoleurn with the most numerous sacrificial objects in China.

Qin Shi Huang and Construction of the Mausoleum
Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC), the first emperor of China, ascended the throne at the age of 13. Qin Shi Huang's reign was marked with great advances in all sections of society. More Information...

Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang
Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang which covers 56.25 square km, was designed in accordance with the layout of the emperor's capital. The original high of the tomb is taller than today's. The Historian said the base of the tomb was 2087.65m in perimeter. Because of 2,200 years erosion by wind and rain, it is 1390m now.The Mausoleum is rectangular in shape and enclosed by two walls-the inner city wall and the outer city wall. The inner wall covers a area of 79sqm, and the outer wall 213 sqm.The walls no longer exist but the foundations halved remained. Both walls featured comer towers and broad gates on four sides, with the arrangement resembling a real city.

The underground palace of the mausoleum is the core of the whole buildings. Some survey indicates that the ceiling is studded with jewels depicting the sky, and mercury was pumped in mechanically to create images of flowing river. Trial digs have revealed high contents of mercury in the soil. Candles made from the fat of the walrus were said to bum for a very long time .This indicates that the interior of the mausoleum is grand and gorgeous palace and treasure house. It is said that the underground palace was brightly lit by whale oil lamps for eternity. The coffin of Emperor Qin Shihuang was cast in bronze. The palaces and other buildings within the walls of the mausoleum were destroyed. Only the huge pyramid of the mound survived the devastation, In 1987 the mausoleum was by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

As a part of the mausoleum, the terracotta warriors have dazzled the world. But the materials unexcavated are also worth studying. More Information...