Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

It will come as no surprise that the man behind the Great Wall of China liked big, statement projects. Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, arranged the mausoleum as a personal burial site, and it took nearly 40 years and 700,000 workers to build. Only a part of this mystery was revealed in 1974 when more than 8,000 sculptures of men, weapons, chariots, and horses were discovered over three pits, and it is believed that there are still many yet to be unearthed. The sculptures are lifelike, and each face is unique, indicating that they may be based on those living at the time. The phenomenal site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and continues to promise many more secrets that are buried beneath. While Qin Shi Huang’s tomb has remained unopened since 210 BC, researchers have revealed his obsession with immortality and long-life potions – chemicals that ironically may have caused his death.