Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Tomb

Located at the foot of the Mountain Li and 2 km west of the Terracotta Army, is the tomb of the Qin Emperor that the warriors were built to protect. This is a very tourist oriented site and it leaves many people feeling cold. Today, it is hard to imagine the incredible glamour and grandeur that must have surrounded this tomb in 221 BC.

Emperor Qin ascended the throne when he was only thirteen years old and his reign is widely interpreted as being one dominated by centralized rule and tyranny. The terracotta army face eastwards, a reflection of the Emperor's fear of eastern invasion. Although the Emperor did bring peace to the eastern states and unified China, he also ordered that all books be destroyed (except those concerning the Qin dynasty) and implemented high taxes to fund the Great Wall.Modern historians have revised the opinion of the Emperor as a philistine and dictator. They argue that the wealth of treasures found in his tomb and the artistic value of the warriors themselves are examples of high culture and artistic talent.

Whatever the historical opinion, there is no disputing that this was once an incredible and impressive Tomb. Archaeologists believe that the tomb was originally decorated with gold, silver and pearl . The artists who designed and constructed the mausoleum were buried alive with the Emperor and thereby forced to literally take their secrets to the grave. According to the Emperor's official biography, "The Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried at the foot of Mount Li. The Emperor started to build his mausoleum as soon as he came to the throne. When he unified the whole country, the Emperor Qin Shi Huang conscripted more than seven hundred thousand convicts to help build his mausoleum... and install crossbows, which were automatically discharged to prevent tomb plunderers."

How to get there: The easiest way to get to the Mausoleum is to take an Eastern Tour from Xi'an or the Green Bus No. 306 from the Bell Tower in Xi'an.If you take the Green Bus you will have no tour guide but you can travel between the Terracotta Army, the Mausoleum and the Huaqing Springs in your own time.

Entrance Fee: RMB26

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