Xian's Terra Cotta Warriors

The city of Xian in Shaanxi Province is over 3,100 years old, it is one of China's Four Great Capitals and has served as the capital under several dynasties. Xian was also the starting point on the Silk Road, a trade route which ran from Xian all the way to the Mediterranean. However the most well known thing about Xian is that it is home to the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. It is possible to see the UNESCO site of the Terra Cotta Warriors as well as several other sites in Xian by taking a Terra Cotta Warriors Tour.


(photo: Gao)

With a Terra Cotta Warriors Tour the focus is on the main attraction, the warriors themselves but in addition your tour will include several other Xian sites like the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Hot Springs, Xian Ancient City Walls, Bell and Drum Tower, Hanyang Tombs or the Shaanxi Province History Museum. A Terra Cotta Warriors Tour will also usually include lunch in an authentic local restaurant, all your transport arrangements during the tour and the services of a professional and knowledgeable tour guide.

A Terra Cotta Warrior Tour will take you to the Eighth Wonder of the World, which is visited by about 2 million people each year. The Terra Cotta Warriors were created during the Qin Dynasty (211-206BC) to be buried together with the Emperor and guard him on his journey in the afterlife. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses were discovered by farmers in 1974. The present Terra Cotta Warriors and Horse Museum is located about 50km from Xian and 1.5km from the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum.

The Terra Cotta Warriors are life size figures of Imperial warriors standing in formation. Each facial expression, hairstyle, posture and clothing style is individual so that the warriors could literally be real people. At the museum you will be able to see the three pits covering 16,300m² where the warriors stand in army formation. Above the excavation site a museum holds findings from the archaeological excavation. The museum holds bronze chariots, 30,000 weapons and other findings discovered in the same excavation. Of the three pits the largest and most impressive is Pit 1, so that is where any Terra Cotta Warriors Tour will spend most of the time. In Pit 1 there are rows of more than 1,000 warriors and behind them 90 wooden chariots. Pit 2 has not been excavated completely but it is believed to contain chariots and horses. Pit 3 Holds warriors and several horses. When you take a Terra Cotta Warrior Tour your tour guide will give you all the history of the site and tell you interesting anecdotes about the warriors.

After your visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors your tour guide will see you safely back to your hotel or to the train station or airport so that you can make your return journey from Xian. Don't miss the opportunity of seeing one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian.