Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Shihuangdi, the 'first sovereign Emperor,' formally created the Qin Empire, the first to control all of China, in 246 BC. Ying was a tough and unyielding monarch who grew distrustful and superstitious over time. He enlisted 700,000 laborers to construct an extravagant mausoleum to guard him in the afterlife before dying at the age of 49.

The Qin mausoleum is a 76-meter-high mound with an inner tomb and a 22-square-mile 'city' on the outside. 8000 terracotta warriors with horses, chariots, and weaponry protect it. Every warrior's face is distinct, and they were initially painted in vibrant colors that faded quickly when the mausoleum was uncovered and left to the elements in 1974.

The inner tomb is a subterranean palace with 18 homes and indications of roadways and bridges in its courtyards.

After Shihuangdi's death, the Qin empire fell apart, and the tomb is currently the only physical reminder of his life; however, China is a derivative of the name Qin.

Location: Xi’an, China