Chinese archaeologists have uncovered a remarkably preserved section of a vast imperial road dating back more than 2,200 years, a discovery that is reshaping assumptions about the scale and sophistication of ancient infrastructure. The find, detailed in a recent report by the South China Morning Post, describes a 13 kilometre stretch of the Qin dynasty road network in Shaanxi province, part of a route that once extended nearly 900 kilometres across northern China, according to the SCMP.
Excavations reveal a structure far more complex than a simple earthen path. Archaeologists identified straight, excavated trenches, compacted embankments, layered road surfaces, and extensive fill used to level valleys and maintain a direct alignment. The road averages around 40 metres in width and expands to roughly 60 metres in some sections, dimensions that rival parts of modern multi lane highways.
The road is believed to date to the late Qin period, shortly before the empire collapsed in 207 BCE. Historical records suggest it linked Xianyang, the Qin capital near present day Xi’an, to Jiuyuan, close to modern Baotou in Inner Mongolia. This northern corridor cut through frontier territory frequently threatened by raids, making speed and reliability critical for the movement of troops, supplies, and official communications.
Researchers also uncovered remains of a nearby relay station used during both the Qin and Han dynasties. Storage pits and building foundations indicate that the road supported more than military traffic. It functioned as an administrative and commercial artery, carrying tax grain, state documents, merchants, and information between the imperial centre and newly controlled regions.
The rediscovery owes much to modern technology. Satellite imagery and remote sensing first revealed subtle linear features in the landscape, which were later confirmed through ground surveys and excavation. Earlier surveys in the 1970s had noted fragments of the route, but the new work demonstrates its continuity and monumental scale.
Comparisons with modern highways are difficult to avoid. Qin engineers cut through hills and filled ravines to preserve straight lines, prioritising speed and strategic control over local disruption. While the road lacked asphalt or signage, its footprint and purpose feel strikingly familiar.
As researchers continue to analyse soil samples, wear patterns, and associated sites, the road is becoming a testing ground for understanding how ancient states projected power across distance. The discovery underscores how deeply infrastructure has shaped governance and security, and suggests that debates about connectivity, logistics, and state reach are far older than the highways that dominate today’s landscapes.