The Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

The Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is the burial site of the Terracotta Army, built for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. It is located in Lintong District, about 40 kilometers northeast of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. The construction took over 38 years, starting in 246 BCE, and the mausoleum is situated beneath a pyramid-shaped mound standing 76 meters tall. The site is divided into an inner city, 2.5 kilometers long, and an outer city, 6.3 kilometers long, with the burial chamber located at the center of the mausoleum. The mausoleum was accidentally discovered by local villagers digging a well on March 29, 1974, when they unearthed remnants of the over 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army. To date, the Chinese government has excavated only a small portion of the site, uncovering artifacts including an army of 8,000 terracotta soldiers, generals, officers, chariots, warhorses, and various weapons, each uniquely crafted to resemble real individuals. 😱 It is estimated that the entire mausoleum complex spans an area of over 2,180 square kilometers. The site was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. 🚍 To visit from Xi'an city, take the subway to Qinlinxi Station, which takes just over an hour, then transfer to a bus or call a Didi for a 10-minute ride to the site. 🕗 Open daily: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM 💰 Admission fee: 540 THB/person 🧐 Recommended visit duration: 4-5 hours 🚶 Walking distance: approximately 7-8 kilometers.