Everyone knows about the Great Pyramids of Giza but did you know Asia has its own pyramids. They are located in China which was the seat of ancient civilisation beside the Indus Valley Civilisation. Though studies have been going on regarding the pyramids of China but the Chinese officials have continued refusing the presence of any such Pyramids. In 1920 the stone structures were mentioned in the work by historian Henri Cordier. Then in 1947 Col. Maurice Sheehan photographed on such structure from his DCS airplane. He claimed that the pyramid was 300 metres high and 450 metres long. But the Chinese officials discredited the evidence and claimed that Sheehan might have exaggerated the facts.
During the 1950s and 60s repeated evidence was provided about the so called “ritual platforms” or “artificial hills” present in the borders between Mongolia and China. But the Chinese authorities kept on claiming that these were not pyramids and rather they were rather hills. In 1978 Chinese authorities at last acknowledged the fact that pyramids were the burial chambers of the emperors from the Western Han dynasty. Some historical accounts also testified the building of pyramids. Che Houang-ti who was the head of the Ts’ in family changed the Chinese society from its ancient customs. He built the Great Wall of China after prophesy for barbarian attack on China. The ruler gained in prominence after his tomb was discovered in 1974.
Sseuma Ts’ien one of the historians during this age write that the emperor had ordered for the construction of a pyramid at Lin-t’ong which lied between Hnan and Si-ngan. When the emperor died in 210 B.C. he along with his treasures was buried in the pyramid. As there were a lot of costly treasures buried within the pyramid thus the doors were locked and there were plants or shrubs planted to give this place a natural look. The rulers who followed Che Houang-ti also followed this custom and build pyramids to commemorate their death.
Though the pyramids have plants and shrubs and appear close to small hills but archaeological research has proved that these are burial chambers. The tallest of these pyramids is 300 metres high and 500 metres long which would make it twice as large as the pyramid at Giza. There are contradictory claims to the number of pyramids situated in Xian, ancient Sian-Fu. While some feel that there 16 pyramids in total, other opine that there more than 20 pyramids in the area. Si an-Fu is much older than the city of Beijing and was once the capital of China. Thus the emperors build the pyramids in this remote location.
Though researchers are excited about this astounding discovery but the Chinese authorities seem to keep on hiding the existence of these monuments of importance. The entire area has been proclaimed as a no fly or restricted area and only higher authorities can earn an entry into the area. One of the reasons for such a strange reaction from the Chinese authorities may be because they want to preserve this place and do not want it to be hounded by people all over the world. May be they hold this place sacred and strictly for the Chinese.