The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant
archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this
site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's
Mausoleum, Lintong District, Shaanxi Province. It is a sight not to be
missed by any visitor to China.
Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi
Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had begun to work for his
mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried
treasures and sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in his
after life. A group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for
a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. it caught the attention of
archeologists immediately. They came to Xian in droves to study and to
extend the digs. They had established beyond doubt that these artifacts
were associated with the Qin Dynasty (211-206 BC).
The State Council authorized to build a museum on site in 1975. When
completed, people from far and near came to visit. Xian and the Museum
of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses have become landmarks on all
travelers' itinerary.
Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged
in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are
replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of
pomp and vigor.
The museum covers an area of 16,300 square meters, divided into
three sections: No.1 Pit, No.2 Pit, and No.3 Pit respectively. They were
tagged in the order of their discoveries. No. 1 Pit is the largest,
first opened to the public on China's National Day, 1979. There are
columns of soldiers at the front, followed by war chariots at the back.
No. 2 Pit, found in 1976, is 20 meters northeast of No. 1 Pit. It
contained over a thousand warriors and 90 chariots of wood. It was
unveiled to the public in 1994.Archeologists came upon No. 3 Pit also in
1976, 25 meters northwest of No. 1 Pit. It looked like to be the
command center of the armed forces. It went on display in 1989, with 68
warriors, a war chariot and four horses.
Altogether over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even
weapons have been unearthed from these pits. Most of them have been
restored to their former grandeur.
The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses is a sensational
archeological find of all times. It has put Xian on the map for
tourists. It was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural
heritages.
Address: Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi |
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