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Secondary sourcePhotograph9 February 2016

Tomb Mound of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

Nathan Hughes Hamilton · 9 February 2016

A photograph of the still largely unexcavated burial mound of Qin Shi Huang near Xi'an, part of his vast funerary complex.

This is the actual burial mound built for Qin Shi Huang, the emperor whose tomb and necropolis this archive documents.

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A wooded, rounded hill rises under a pale blue sky over a flat field of cut grass in the foreground. A small white structure sits on the hilltop. A leafy tree with yellow fruit stands at right.
Modern photograph of the Tomb Mound of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, near Xi'an. Photo by Nathan Hughes Hamilton, 2016.

About this source

What it is

This is a modern photograph, taken in 2016, of the earthen mound covering the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, located east of Xi'an, China. The tomb itself remains largely unexcavated.

Why it matters

The mound is part of a much larger necropolis built for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, and the famous Terracotta Army was created to surround and protect it. The scale of the site reflects the power and resources the emperor commanded.

Look closer

  • Why might the tomb still be unexcavated today?
  • What does the size of this mound suggest about the emperor who ordered it built?
  • What questions does this photograph leave unanswered about what lies inside?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Emperor Qin Shi Huang on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Excavated pit of the Terracotta Army under a large covered hall. Rows of life-sized clay soldiers stand in long trenches separated by earthen walls, with some clay horses visible at right. Visitors watch from walkways at the edges.Sculpture

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Terracotta Army

c. 247–209 BCE

Wide view of a landscaped park on a sunny day: a paved plaza in front, a grass lawn, a rectangular hedge with a small white pavilion on a raised mound, tall cypress trees, a wooded hill behind, and groups of visitors.Artifact

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Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

246–208 BCE

Aerial view of the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling. Stone wall with watchtowers winds along a green forested ridge through hilly terrain, with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.Artifact

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Great Wall of China

7th century BCE–present, Qin-era sections 3rd century BCE

A rough, brownish stone-like weight with a knob on top, displayed in a glass case on a white base. A green patina inscription plaque with carved characters is set into its front face.Artifact

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Qin Iron Weight with Imperial Edict

221 BCE

A single narrow wooden or bamboo slip, pale yellow-tan, with a dark blackened top end and a pointed bottom end, mounted behind glass on a fabric-covered backing. Several lines of brown-black ink characters are written vertically down its face.Document

Primary source

Liye Qin Slips

Qin dynasty, 3rd century BCE

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