Archaeologists in northwest China have uncovered an 8-mile (13km) section of a Qin Dynasty road, believed to date back more than 2,200 years. The ancient military route, part of the Qinzhidao system, was constructed under the orders of Emperor Qinshihuang during China’s first unification period. The newly identified stretch runs through the Hengshan District of Yulin, in Shaanxi Province.
The discovery was made during a 2024 survey conducted by the Cultural Relics Protection Research Institute in Yulin. The project focused on documenting the layout and current condition of the road remains. According to the institute, the finding helps further outline the path of the original Qin Dynasty road and provides fresh evidence of its historical significance.
China’s Qin Dynasty road reveals military infrastructure
Though much of the structure has deteriorated, archaeologists noted that the road still follows an unusually straight line across mountainous terrain. Researchers also confirmed nine aligned mountain passes cut into the landscape, a rammed-earth slope, and visible signs of trampled road surfaces and compacted foundations along the route.
In addition to the road remains, the team uncovered a small nearby settlement. Based on artifacts and the location, the site is believed to have served as a courier post or a maintenance station. The settlement dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties, between 221 BC and 220 AD. Pottery shards and tile fragments typical of that period were found at the site.
The institute stated that the newly revealed details of the Qinzhidao route will support ongoing efforts to map the full length of this historic infrastructure, which played a critical role in the military and administrative expansion of early China.
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