The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is an early Chinese burial site dating back to 210 BC. The first Chinese emperor commissioned it, and it remains one of the largest mausoleums in the world today. It gained worldwide fame primarily due to its terracotta soldiers, the unique Terracotta Army.
The tomb of the first emperor is located in Lintong County, approximately 28 kilometers east of Xi'an.
Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, ordered the construction of this monumental burial site around 221 BC, featuring numerous pits, tombs, and walls. Up to 700,000 workers are said to have been involved simultaneously in its construction. The construction, reportedly adorned with gold, silver, and gemstones, is believed to have lasted about 36 years.
Until 1974, the burial site remained completely unknown until a few farmers accidentally discovered an underground army of an estimated 8,000 life-sized warriors during well-digging work. 2,000 of these figures have been restored in recent years, but excavations are still ongoing, hence the entire site has not been fully opened yet.
The field of the Terracotta Army consists of four pits: two large figure fields (Pit 1 and 2), the command post (Pit 3), and another pit. The entire complex appears to have not been completed by the time of the emperor's death and was not further built upon after the dynasty ended.
The main attraction for tourists remains Pit 1, which is 230 meters long and 62 meters wide. Within eleven corridors separated by walls 2.5 meters thick, approximately 1,100 clay soldiers stand alongside 32 horses, bronze weapons, and remnants of eight chariots.
The individually crafted clay soldiers are hollow except for their legs. Their military ranks can be identified based on their caps and equipment. Many figures were armed with bronze spears, which were looted by plunderers. The arrangement of the main group reflects the deployment of soldiers according to military art of the time. The first unit consists of 210 archers, followed by armored spear bearers and chariots. In Pit 2, one can observe various types of weaponry: infantry, cavalry, chariot drivers, as well as archers and crossbowmen are clearly distinguishable.
Pit 3, shaped like a horseshoe, was interpreted as a command post where the 68 excavated soldiers are not in combat formation but positioned towards the center. Animal bones found represent sacrificial rituals believed to have occurred during battles.
Pit 4 was found empty, leading archaeologists to speculate that the burial site was never completed.
UNESCO added the Tomb of the First Emperor to the World Heritage List.
