In a remarkable discovery that bridges the past with the present, Chinese archaeologists have brought to light a monumental piece of ancient infrastructure. They have excavated a significant section of a 2,200-year-old highway, often hailed as China's first major road, built under the orders of the formidable first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
The Discovery: Unearthing a Lost Artery of Empire
On December 9, researchers announced the find of a well-preserved 13-kilometer stretch of the legendary Qin Straight Road in the Yulin region of Shaanxi province. This section is part of a colossal 900-kilometer highway that once connected the Qin dynasty capital of Xianyang to the frontier outpost of Jiuyuan. Constructed in a remarkably short span of five years between 212 BC and 207 BC, this road was a strategic military asset designed to speed up the movement of troops and supplies against the nomadic Xiongnu confederation to the north.
The excavation reveals astonishing details about its construction. As reported by the South China Morning Post, the ancient engineers went to extraordinary lengths to maintain a straight path. They dug deep trenches, built robust rammed-earth slopes, and deliberately filled valleys to create a level roadway. The resulting highway was an impressive 40 to 60 meters wide—broad enough to accommodate the equivalent of four modern traffic lanes. The discovery of heavily trampled surfaces confirms this route saw immense traffic and was a vital lifeline for centuries.
An Engineering Feat Ahead of Its Time
The sophistication of this pre-industrial project has left modern experts in awe. Archaeologists noted features like compacted roadbeds, reinforced slopes, and systematic valley fills, all serving the singular purpose of keeping the route perfectly straight. The road was strategically built, with mountain passes situated 50 to 90 meters from the hillsides. The find of a nearby relay station containing ceramics from both the Qin and subsequent Han dynasties proves the road's utility long after its original builders were gone.
So significant is this discovery that China Cultural Heritage News has dubbed it "the ancestor of the world’s highways." In terms of defensive scale and ambition, it is considered second only to the Great Wall of China, another mega-project initiated by Qin Shi Huang. This ancient highway was a critical link that connected the empire's agricultural heartland to its remote northern frontiers, enabling control and commerce.
The Grand Vision of Qin Shi Huang and Its Lasting Legacy
The road was the brainchild of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the unifier of China. After consolidating his power, he commissioned General Meng Tian to oversee its construction. The ancient historian Sima Qian documented the effort in his Records of the Grand Historian, noting how workers were "filling valleys and levelling mountains" to achieve the emperor's vision. Alongside the Great Wall, this highway formed the backbone of the northern defense and logistics network.
Ironically, after the fall of the Qin dynasty, the very nomads it was meant to defend against used the road for their own incursions. Historical records indicate that Han dynasty rulers, in a bid to stall invaders, destroyed parts of the highway on at least three separate occasions. Over the centuries, sparse documentation and the shifting sands of the Mu Us Desert in Yulin obscured its exact path, until now.
The rediscovery was aided by modern technology and environmental changes. Satellite imagery revealed linear strips of greener vegetation tracing the old route, a clue exposed by China's re-greening efforts in the desert. Ground fieldwork then confirmed nine distinct sections of straight trench, helping to fill historical gaps between Yulin and Ordos.
This ancient highway is more than a relic; it is a testament to early logistical genius and sustainable engineering that inspires modern infrastructure projects. It provides tangible proof of ancient texts and showcases a relentless human drive for progress. As climate change and technology continue to reshape landscapes, they also offer new tools to unlock and understand the enduring legacy of our shared history, one straight road at a time.
