Discovered in 1974 outside of Xi'an by a group of farmers, China's Terracotta Warriors are one of the country's most iconic symbols. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Terracotta Army features 2,000-year-old life-sized sculptures of warriors and horses, intended to represent Emperor Qin Shi Huan's imperial guard. Archaeologists believe the army was created to protect the Emperor in his afterlife. The main exhibit, the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, includes three main pits, or trenches, which house the Army. The first pit is the most impressive because of its sheer size. Rows upon rows of life-sized foot soldiers stand guard among horses and chariots. I have to wonder about the figures: each face is unique, but was each warrior based on a living person? Studies by archaeologists hint that they were, which if true means we're staring into the faces of people who lived thousands of years ago. The sheer amount of labor and artistry that went into building this army is unbelievable. There are 2,000 excavated soldiers on display in pit one, but archaeologists think that originally, there were more than 6,000 soldiers buried here. Pit two, the mid-sized pit, features archers and the cavalry, while the smallest, third pit contains a group of soldiers pulled by a horse-drawn chariot. Aside from the chance to see the warriors themselves, your ticket also gives you access to the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall, which is definitely worth a visit, and the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, whichis... less worth a visit. It's a grave mound over the unopened tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, so there's not a whole lot to see, but if you want to check it out, it's accessible with a short bus ride. There are signs posted around each pit explaining some of the history and excavation of the site, but for a more in-depth experience, I would suggest hiring a guide. I toured the Warriors as part of a larger guided tour, which I really enjoyed, but there are limited audio guides as well as tour guides available at the museum of varying quality. I visited during winter, the off-season, so we didn't have to contend with too many tourists, but no matter what season you go, I recommend visiting in the morning. The weather is more mild, and the crowds will be a lot lighter than if you go later in the day. It opens at 8.30, and arriving then gives you plenty of time to see everything in the couple of hours before the tours start to arrive. Finally, as the tour company China Highlights points out, be aware of scams: a popular one is a person posing as one of the farmers who discovered the Army. While some guides may try to direct you to one of these people, it doesn't mean they're legit--nor are the expensive signed books they're selling. Likewise, prices for food and souvenirs are very expensive in this area; you will have better luck at one of Xi'an's markets, such as the Beiyuanmen Muslim Market. I spent an hour or two there touring the vendor stalls, and I can honestly say they had an incredible variety of food to choose from--from standard street food fare to things a little more outside my culinary comfort zone. I wasn't quite brave enough to try the candied scorpions, but I've heard good things ;) See more adventures!If you liked this post, you may also like:
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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