The Xichui Royal Tombs and the Bronze Gui of the Duke of Qin

　　In the 1920s, the famous bronze ware known as the “Bronze Gui of the Duke of Qin” was discovered in the areas of Yanguan and Honghe in Li County, Gansu, drawing worldwide attention. In the early 1990s, a large-scale burial site of the Qin people was discovered on Dabaozi Mountain, located 13 kilometers east of Li County, as well as on nearby Yuanding Mountain. A wealth of precious artifacts were unearthed, including bronze ware, jade artifacts, pottery, stone tools, gold objects, bone tools, and lacquerware. Experts have identified these tombs and relics as belonging to the early Qin dynasty, thereby confirming that the Dabaozi Mountain Qin tombs are the first royal mausoleum of the Qin people — the Xichui Royal Tombs. In July 2001, the Dabaozi Qin Duke Tombs were listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The discovery of the Xichui Royal Tombs provides important clues and evidence for locating the early capitals of the Qin people and exploring the origins of Qin culture.