Hailed as one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the Terracotta Warriors in Xian China are a fascinating sight to see.
History of the Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army includes an estimated 8000 figures including soldiers, horses and chariots constructed to protect the entrance to the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The army was discovered in 1974 by a group of local farmers who were digging a well in the area. When visiting the site today it’s likely you may encounter one of the farmers as they visit the site to sign books and pictures.
It is estimated that construction began in 246 BC, took around 36 years to complete and involved the work of over 700 000 people. The emperor was quite a visionary as construction began when he was a mere 13 years old. It was intended that the army would help him rule another empire in the afterlife. No two soldiers look alike and it is possible to distinguish the various ranks of soldiers depending on the position in which they wear the bun in their hair.
Visiting the Pits
The Terracotta Army site consists of three pits that have been excavated and are open to the public. The largest of the pits is pit one which was opened to the public in 1979. There are over 6000 soldiers and horses in pit one with 1000 of those being uncovered. Pit two contains an impressive array of intact figures ranging from archers and cavalry to chariots and horses. Next to pit two is an exhibition hall containing examples of some of the best preserved figures and it is possible to examine these at close range (through glass) and pick up the incredible detail that went into the creation of each distinct figure.
Pit three is the final pit open to the public and is the smallest of these excavated sites. Here it is possible to see examples of the bronze weaponry that was created to accompany the warriors. Each warrior would have been coloured and armed as a real soldier would have been and one can only imagine how spectacular this army would have looked after it was originally completed.
Mystery Surrounding Qin’s Tomb
The actual tomb containing the remains of Qin Shi Huang lies some 1.5km west of the warrior site and to this day remains un-excavated. This is partly for preservation reasons and partly due to the fact that legend has it rivers were created from mercury within the tomb. Probes have been sent into the surrounding soil and high levels of mercury have indeed been detected.
Sima Qian, an ancient Chinese historian around from about 135 BC to 45 BC is said to have described the tomb as including replicas of palaces and scenic towers, 100 rivers made of mercury and crossbows rigged to shoot anyone trying to break into the tomb. This mystery remains unsolved and it is perhaps more exciting to leave the possibility up to the imagination of the individual. The legend is not alluded to when visiting the Terracotta Army, so it’s a good idea to a bit of reading on this before getting there – it could make the experience a little more awe-inspiring.
Getting to the Terracotta Army Site
The Terracotta Army site is situated around 30kms outside of Xian and is easily accessible by bus, taxi or train. A taxi should cost around 200 Yuan (about US$29), but make sure to tell your driver you don’t want to be taken to any souvenir shops or other “historic sites” along the way. If taking a bus, take one from the Xian railway station (numbers 5, 914 and 915) and get off at the last station. The journey should take around an hour.
Entrance to the Terracotta Warriors will cost about 90 Yuan and the site is open daily from 08:30 – 17:00. Plan on spending around three hours there in order to see each of the pits fully, possibly longer in the height of tourist season during the summer months.
A visit to the Terracotta Army will leave travellers with a new respect and appreciation for how advanced the ancient Chinese were. China is a country full of ancient wonder and the Terracotta Army is possibly the jewel in that crown.
Louise Campion - Louise Campion is an avid traveller who loves the idea that writing about a destination might just inspire someone else to travel. Other ...
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