Dabaozi Mountain Ruins and Tomb Complex

　　The Dabaozi Mountain Ruins and Tomb Complex is situated 13 kilometers east of Li County in Gansu Province. It is a heritage site from the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century–771 BC) to the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC).

　　　　The tomb complex covers a total area of 18 square kilometers and includes several burial areas such as Dabaozi Mountain and Zhaoping Yuanding Mountain. Fourteen tombs and two chariot-and-horse pits have been excavated. Among them, there are two large "zhong"-shaped tombs, believed to be the burial sites of rulers of the Qin State. Several medium-sized tombs are vertical earthen pit graves oriented from east to west. The tombs face east with the heads of the deceased positioned to the west—a layout identical to that of the Yongcheng, Zhiyang, and Qin Shi Huang mausoleums. The "zhong"-shaped tombs, some stretching over 100 meters in length, also reflect the Qin people’s preference for constructing grand mausoleums. A large number of bronze ware items, as well as gold and jade artifacts, have been unearthed from these tombs. Some bronze objects bear inscriptions such as "Made by the Duke of Qin for use in a ding vessel" and "Made by the Duke of Qin for a precious gui vessel."

　　　　The discovery of the Dabaozi Mountain Tomb Complex, especially the large Qin tombs, confirms that this area was the center of the Qin State from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the mid-Spring and Autumn Period. It holds significant academic value for the study of Qin burial systems during the Zhou period, the origin of the Qin State and the enfeoffment system of the Western Zhou, the migration of the Qin people, and their social characteristics.