The "Forbidden Land" of China
Deep within the mountains in southern China's Hunan Province, lies a mysterious and uninhabited village called Guangxi Village. According to records, this village has existed for over 700 years.
Villagers from nearby areas have passed down stories from their ancestors that the mountain surrounding the village is highly mystical, referring to it as a "forbidden land." For generations, no villager has dared to venture alone onto the mountain, except during times of war or natural disasters, when they would approach the base of the mountain to pay respects.
Village elders have always warned against entering the area, believing that it would bring misfortune. For 700 years, the village remained untouched.
Strange Occurrences Arise
However, strange occurrences began to occur about 30 years ago. Following heavy rainfall, villagers noticed peculiar stone figurines appearing at the foot of the mountain. These stone statues varied in size, from just a few centimeters to life-sized figures.
Why did this mountain have stone statues?
The sightings piqued the interest of nearby villagers, and some of the braver ones decided to venture up the mountain to investigate what the forbidden land held.
Stone Figures and a Mountain of Mystery
The next day, a group of villagers entered the mountain, but they soon fled back in fear. Strong winds and thick fog enveloped them, their minds filled with unimaginable noises. They became disoriented and unable to see clearly. Terrified, they ran without looking back. No one dared to venture into the mountain again.
A Wonder in the Depths of the Forest
Some villagers suggested reporting the matter to the local Cultural Relics Bureau. They immediately organized a team of specialists to investigate the site.
Upon examining the stone statues at the foot of the mountain, the archaeologists noticed that their heights ranged from 1 meter to 30 centimeters. The crude designs suggested that most of these stone statues were made 5,000 years ago, cultural relics from the Yao and Shun periods.
To truly uncover the secrets, the archaeological team decided to venture into the mysterious "forbidden land." Braving the 700-year-old superstitions that had shrouded the mountain and the village, the archaeological team finally reached their destination safe and sound.
What they found has been heralded as a wonder of China:
A Magnificent Discovery
Before their eyes was a sight they would likely only see once in their lives: tens of thousands of stone statues, creating a kingdom of stone figures.
They were amazed to find numerous stone statues in the mountains, each with different forms – seated figures, standing figures, soldiers, officials holding stone tablets, mighty generals, and more.
Referring to pre-Qin historical documents, the experts speculated that this was a grand sacrificial site, and concluded that it must have been the burial place of the ancient Emperor Shun. Consequently, the experts believe that the many stone statues represent the souls of the deceased, carved by subsequent generations to accompany Emperor Shun.
Furthermore, the archaeological team discovered that some of the stone statues were buried underground.
A World Wonder
The discovery of tens of thousands of stone statues immediately caused a sensation throughout China. Experts believe this is the largest collection of ancient stone statues ever found. It could be considered another "world wonder" after the terracotta army of Qin Shi Huang.
The unearthing of this stone statue complex has become a miraculous archaeological discovery in China. Today, it has been designated as a key cultural relic under careful protection.