Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor · The Underground Palace That Remains Unexcavated to This Day

Historical records state that inside the underground palace, “mercury was used to simulate the hundred rivers, the Yangtze, the Yellow River, and the seas,” with crossbow traps set as defenses, the ceiling depicting the heavens, and the floor representing the geography of the earth.

Modern geophysical exploration confirms: there is a significant mercury anomaly at the centre of the burial mound, which matches the historical records. This is both evidence and a warning.

To this day, the archaeological community advocates against active excavation, one reason being that conservation technology is not yet mature. Local elders have a different take: those who disturbed it never met a good end.

Historical Mysteries / Xi’an · China / 210 BC