A remarkable 2,200-year-old rock carving discovered in China’s remote Qinghai province has been officially authenticated as genuine, providing unprecedented evidence of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s legendary quest for immortality. The inscription, found at an altitude of 4,300 meters on the Tibetan Plateau near Gyaring Lake, represents the only known Qin Dynasty rock carving still preserved at its original location.
After months of heated scholarly debate questioning its authenticity, China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration has conclusively verified the carving’s legitimacy through advanced scientific analysis. The 37-character inscription, written in ancient seal script, documents an expedition led by a high-ranking official named Yi to collect medicinal substances in the Kunlun Mountains during the 37th year of Qin Shi Huang’s reign, corresponding to 210 BC.
This extraordinary discovery provides concrete archaeological evidence supporting historical accounts of the first emperor’s obsession with finding the elixir of life, a quest that ultimately contributed to his death.
