Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army is one of China’s most well-known attractions. It is also one of the most ancient intact sites in the whole country, with a history reaching back two-millennia. The Terracotta Army is a huge collection of live-size stone carvings in the likeness of ancient Chinese soldiers and their horses.

Located in the outskirts of China’s ancient capital city of Xi’an, Shanxi province, the site itself consists of a series of pits about 1.5 meters deep that hold over 8000 of life-size statues. Swordsmen, archers and warhorses all stand in rows and columns like an ancient army come to life. Over the centuries since their construction the statues have been damaged by plunderers and natural erosion. The temperature of the chamber they are displayed in also causes mold to affect the statues. Efforts are underway to preserve the statues and curb their decay.


History

The Terracotta Army is part of a tomb complex for the first emperor of a unified China, Qin Shi Huang. Before his dynasty (known as the Qin Dynasty), China had been a series of warring states, constantly fighting for power. Qin Shi Huang forced these warring states into one united China, standardized Chinese writing and introduced a common currency.

Traditionally considered to be a tyrant, Qin Shi Huang’s tomb (still unopened) lies several kilometers away from the Terracotta Army. The statues themselves were made to allow Qin Shi Huang to build an empire in the afterlife. The emperor was a fierce opponent of Confucian scholars and was known to bury them alive. This gives life to the legend that the soldiers of the Terracotta Army were real soldiers buried alive to accompany the emperor in death.

Though the site was recorded by Chinese historians, it was not discovered until recently. In 1974, several farmers were digging to build a well and found ancient pottery shards buried in the earth. News spread of the discovery and an excavation revealed the thousands of soldiers that lay just beneath the surface. The Terracotta Army was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.



Who should go: Anyone with an interest in Chinese history should consider a trip to Xi’an to see them. The Terracotta Warriors are one of the oldest and most fascinating historical sites in China.


When to go: The Terracotta Army is a good destination for any time of year. Visitors usually stay from 2 – 4 hours.


Price: From March to November an entrance ticket is 90 RMB. From December to February the price drops to 65 RMB.


Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM


How to get there: Any hotel or travel agency can arrange a tour to the tombs.

It's also possible to take bus 306 from the Xi'an train station to the site.