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This mausoleum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for the Terracotta Army, an impressive collection of clay sculptures of warriors and horses guarding the tomb.

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He ascended to the throne (though under a regent) when he was 12 years old and began to rule at 21. A coup attempt against him failed, and he survived at least three assassination attempts. After defeating the last independent state, he declared himself the first emperor of the country. He abolished feudalism, dividing the country into provinces and connecting them through roads and canals. He standardized units of measurement and unified the currency and calligraphy of the different states. He ordered the construction of an immense wall to defend against northern tribes, which is considered a precursor to the later Great Wall of China.

Qin Shi Huang greatly feared death. He traveled three times to Zhifu Island where, according to legend, there was a mountain that held the secret of immortality, and he sent numerous expeditions in search of the legendary elixir of eternal life; expeditions that, fearing the emperor’s reaction to failure, almost never returned. Qin Shi Huang died at the age of 49 during a journey through the east of the country; it is believed he ingested mercury, advised by one of his alchemists, thinking it would make him immortal.

Although he had four sons, he never named any of them as his successor, as he believed it would not be necessary. Obviously, he was wrong. After his death, a civil war began. The country he had unified broke apart once again; the dynasty, which Qin Shi Huang predicted would last for 10,000 generations, lasted only three more years.

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The construction of the mausoleum began in 246 B.C. and lasted for approximately 38 years.

The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is one of the most impressive funerary structures of antiquity.

It is estimated that around 700,000 workers participated in its construction.

The funerary complex covers an area of about 56 square kilometers. It reflects the burial practices of the time, focused on ensuring the continuity of power and the emperor’s protection in the afterlife.

The mausoleum includes a miniature replica of the imperial palace and the kingdom.

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At the foot of Mount Lishan, about 30 kilometers east of Xi’an.

Features:

• A large funerary complex that includes the main tomb and over 400 other tombs.

• The Terracotta Army, with more than 7,000 life-sized figures of warriors and horses.

• The tomb is believed to contain rivers of mercury and possibly traps.

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Archaeologists are hesitant to open the tomb due to the possibility of traps, the risk of damaging the remains, and mercury exposure.

The emperor’s main tomb remains intact and unexcavated, partly due to the risks involved in opening it. According to historical records, the burial chamber has a ceiling with pearls to symbolize the starry sky, and most dangerously, contains mercury rivers representing China’s main river systems.

Various scientific studies have confirmed the presence of this unusual element, as teams have detected high levels of mercury in the surrounding soil.

It is also believed that the tomb is equipped with traps and mechanisms designed to protect against intruders, which has made archaeologists cautious when considering exploring it.

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The mausoleum, which took 38 years to build, covers more than 56 km²—about 78 times the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing. However, on the surface, only a pyramid-shaped hill 76 meters high remains (it is believed that it was originally over 100 meters tall), under which lies the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, about 30 km from the city of Xi’an.

The mausoleum was built following the model of the city of Xianyang, the ancient capital of the Qin dynasty, and is divided into two parts: an inner city and an outer city, both surrounded by walls, forming a layout relatively similar to the Chinese character “hui” (回), which means “return.”

Between the two, there were gardens, temples, stables, and houses for officials.

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Given the existence and exact location of such an archaeological treasure, it’s understandable that there are opinions supporting the excavation and opening of Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.

In addition to the logical increase in tourism that would come from being able to visit the tomb of the first emperor of unified China, opening it could also prevent looters from attempting to desecrate the tomb of Qin Shi Huang and the large amount of treasures buried with him.

There have already been cases of thieves trying to dig tunnels to steal the jewels and relics the emperor had buried with him.

Additionally, Xi’an is located in a seismic zone where earthquakes are frequent. Although most are low in intensity, some researchers believe that the tomb should be excavated in order to protect it.

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