China: Xi’an – Main Tomb & Lishan Garden at Emperor Qin Mausoleum

The Terracotta Army is the most spectacular part of the site, but there is also a much larger main tomb quite a distance (a shuttle bus ride) away, that has never been excavated. This central tomb remains the greatest mystery of the site. It is located directly under a massive, man-made earth mound shaped like a truncated pyramid. The tomb has never been opened, the fear is that the stuff will get damaged or disintegrate upon opening. Ancient historian Sima Qian wrote that the tomb contains a miniature replica of the Emperor’s empire, with “100 rivers” of flowing mercury representing the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and a ceiling studded with pearls and gems to represent the night sky. Modern soil testing has confirmed significantly high levels of mercury in the mound, supporting the ancient accounts and providing a literal toxic barrier to excavation. There is also fear of many booby traps along the way. There is not much to see now, but the top and the area around is landscaped into beautiful Lishan gardens full of blooming magnolias.