Publish at January 26 2026 Updated January 26 2026
We still have so much to learn about antiquity and the civilizations that preceded us. Already, Western antiquity still conceals mysteries that are far from unveiled, but what can we say about the often unknown and equally rich Eastern civilization? China has not acquired its nickname of "Middle Kingdom" for nothing, but there are still so many unknown elements for archaeologists and historians to fully understand.
Fortunately, technology is helping all these people to deepen their knowledge and make discoveries.
At the end of 2025, a team of Chinese researchers revealed to the world that they had unearthed a 13-kilometre section of an imperial road built during the Qin era, using satellite images and remote sensing instruments.
Historians now know that China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, built a system of roads, including one in the north of the empire that stretched 900 kilometers. This was China's second most ambitious infrastructure project after the Great Wall. The idea was to be able to move armies easily and transmit documents and messages more rapidly across the vast territory, while avoiding enemy peoples as much as possible.
What's most impressive about this discovery is the extent to which the engineering of this period is on a par with modern technology. Already, the road unearthed is 40 meters wide and, on certain stretches, 60 meters. It could almost be compared to a modern 4-lane freeway. The Chinese archaeologists also noted 9 continuous sections ("long trenches"), paths compacted by the traffic of the time and even structures to prevent erosion of the road.
For archaeologists, this discovery will provide a better understanding of the impact of the First Empire on Chinese society at the time.
This road, rather well preserved despite being over 2 millennia old, could reveal other secrets in the years to come. Above all, it is a reminder that the idea of infrastructures that defy understanding is nothing new. Even back then, humans were thirsty enough to achieve incredible things. Historians note that the Imperial Road was built in just five years.
Illustration: Shutterstock - 2498426105
References
China uncovers a 2,200-year-old imperial road that rivals modern highways - https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/china-uncovers-a-2200-year-old-imperial-road-that-rivals-modern-highways_23010/
Did this newly discovered straight road hold the Qin Empire - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/did-this-newly-discovered-straight-road-hold-the-qin-empire-together/articleshow/126200612.cms
Saving China's ancient cities - https://cursus.edu/fr/9573/sauver-les-villes-anciennes-de-chine
China Discovers 2,200-Year-Old Imperial Road, the Ancestor of Today's 4-lane Highways - https://arkeonews.net/china-discovers-2200-year-old-imperial-road-the-ancestor-of-todays-4-lane-highways/
China Unearths 2,200-Year-Old Imperial Road That Once Powered An Empire - https://www.outlooktraveller.com/News/china-unearths-2200-year-old-imperial-road-that-once-powered-an-empire
Chinese thought as a source of Web renewal? - https://cursus.edu/fr/11301/la-pensee-chinoise-source-dun-renouvellement-du-web
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