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.
| Admission Fee: | CNY 90 (Mar.1 to Nov. 30), CNY 65 (Dec. 1 to Feb. 28/29) |
| Opening Hours: | 08:00 to 18:00 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit: | Three hours |
| Bus Route: | 914 and Tourist Bus 5 (306) at the East Square of Xian Railway Station |
Related Links:
Emperor Qin Shi HuangMausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang
Recommended Tours including the visit to Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses:
Terracotta Warriors Tour: One-day to visit Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Historical Xian: 3 Days Visit to Terra Cotta Warriors & Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Xian Impression: 4 Days to Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum & Mt. Huashan
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Travelers' Voices on Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses
1.
Jul. 4,2009 01:02 Reply
Mr.Bassman(USA) said:
Was this site and the warriors used in the film "The Mummy 3 Tomb of the Dragon Emporer" ?
Jul. 4,2009 02:49
Ms.Stella(China) replied:
No, it's not. The palace and the life of Emperor Qin Shi Huang was shot in Hengdian Film City. The live terracotta warriors are made by computer.
2.
Jun. 30,2009 03:00 Reply
Ms.Frog(UK) said:
Hi....i will be visiting this week, are there english speaking guides to explain the history on site.
Jun. 30,2009 04:16
Mr.Shan replied:
Yes, you could hire an English guide at the Travelers Service Center before entering into the museum. The fare is 100yuan~
3.
Jun. 23,2009 23:21 Reply
Mr.angelina said:
this is fantastic! lots of information! useful for my assignments!
4.
Jun. 14,2009 01:39 Reply
Mr.ORANGE said:
On June 13, the first day of the third excavation of the terracotta pit 1, archaeologists surprised to find two closely-connected four-horse chariots and a color-painted terracotta warrior. The excavation is in progress and more unexpected discoveries are to be found.
5.
Jun. 8,2009 20:25 Reply
Mr.ORANGE said:
It is learned that the terracotta warrior pit 1 will be excavated for the third time from June 13.
The archaeological site, about 200 square meters, is located in the north-central part of pit 1. Through this excavation, experts hope many mysteries can be settled, such as, do the terracotta general and civil official really exist in the pit 1, and can the colors of the terracotta warriors be kept after the adoption of the new preservation techniques.
6.
Jun. 4,2009 07:39 Reply
Ms.Barkho(Australia) said:
does this thing say who built it ?
Jun. 8,2009 20:20
Mr.MATTIE(USA) replied:
The Chinese emperor Qin Shihuangdi ordered to build it.
7.
Apr. 30,2009 08:49 Reply
Mr.ando(United Kingdom) said:
Hi can anyone tell me what the hole is in pit one is it part of the original well?
May. 1,2009 18:27
Mr.LePoidevin(China) replied:
I am not sure which hole you are talking about but the original well was dug in the corner of the pit to your left as you enter the building. If it had been dug a meter further away from the first row of warriors, the discovery probably would not have occurred!
May. 12,2009 14:35
Mr.Matthews(UK) replied:
My family visited the teracotta army in 2007 and we had an individual government guide. Accoring to him, the well in pit 1 is original
Jun. 8,2009 04:56
Ms.Carol(China) replied:
I don't know which hole you mentioned.The hole in the middle next to the patition wall is a tome made by modern people.The other hole in the corner is the original well which the local famers dug .
8.
Jun. 2,2009 18:57 Reply
Mr.DANNY MALONGA(DRC) said:
I visit that site while attending a Seminar on Air Safety Administration in Beijing and Xi'An by Mai AND jUNE 2009.It's a huge and amazing archeological site ,may be the sign of strenght and determination of the People of China of every time,...
9.
May. 30,2009 01:29 Reply
Mrs.To preettyy for youu(US) said:
I went there, it is absoulutly amazing. I loved every bit of it. I would like to take my children with me but I think i might be pregnant.. so Im not sure if i cann. You know how those things happen.
Anyway, i think it is one of the most spectacular things ive ever seen,
x
10.
May. 29,2009 08:01 Reply
Mr.Sanchez(USA) said:
very nice display of information.Helped me quite a bit.