Portraits found in tomb may include image of Confucius

The Marquis of Haihun cemetery covers roughly 40,000 square meters and contains eight tombs and a chariot burial site. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Chinese have revered Confucius and followed his teachings for centuries. He is respected as "the teacher of all teachers", and children learn to recite his quotes at a very young age.

The Marquis of Haihun cemetery covers roughly 40,000 square meters and contains eight tombs and a chariot burial site. It is the most complete Western Han cemetery ever discovered in China.

Archaeologists have so far unearthed more than 10,000 heritage pieces from the tombs since 2011, including chariots, bronze cooking utensils, wine vessels, lamps and ancient coins.

Two pieces of gold in the form of horse hoofs were also unearthed during Saturday's excavation. Such gold was usually kept by the imperial family or given as gifts from royalty.

Xinhua contributed to this story.