Terracotta Army Facts

Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army in Xi'an, aka Terracotta Warriors and Horses, is a super large collection of life-size terra cotta sculptures in battle formations, reproducing the mega imperial guard troops of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210BC), the first emperor of the first unified dynasty of Imperial China.

Being the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Terracotta Army is no doubt a must-see for every visitor to Xi'an.

Originally the ancient funerary project for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the Terracotta Warriors China are now displayed in a live museum built on the site, officially named Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, showing the life stories of the emperor and the once powerful Qin Empire (221 – 207BC) in those days of pomp and vigor.

Terracotta Army Facts

 10 Amazing Facts You didn't Know

 7 Cool Facts You May Not Know

 Where are the Terracotta Warriors Located?

 History – over 2,200 years

 When was the Terracotta Army Built?

 Chronicle – 246 BC to today

 Discovery – by local farmers, in 1974

 Who found the Terracotta Warriors?

 What is the Terracotta Army? 10 Things You should Know

 Why are the Terracotta Warriors Important?

 Who Built the Terracotta Warriors? 

 Why was the Terracotta Army built?

 How many Terracotta Warriors are there in China?

 How the Terracotta Warriors were Made

How to Repair the Damaged Terracotta Statues

 How to Protect the Terracotta Warriors 

 A Little-known Case of Terracotta Warriors Theft in 1987

 World Leaders & Celebrities Who Have Visited the Terracotta Army

 Overseas Exhibitions

 How did the Terracotta Army get burnt and destroyed?

 Why was there little record about Terracotta Warriors in history?

Let's Smash the 5 Rumors of the Terracotta Army

Who's the Real Owner of the Terracotta Army?

Were the Terracotta Warriors Made of Real Human Beings?
 

Terracotta Army Visitor Guide

 Day tour plan for independent travelers

What to See


1. Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses

 Insider's Suggestion:    MUST-SEE, 2 to 4 hours

It contains 3 major pits tagged in the order of their discoveries and the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall.

 Pit 1:   the largest; found in 1974 and opened to the public on Oct. 1st, 1979. There is the vanguard in three rows followed by a massive battle array of infantry and war chariots.

 Pit 2:   found in 1976; 20 meters northeast of No. 1 Pit. It is the most spectacular one for the variety of divisions including infantry, crossbow team, cavalry, and 80 chariots.

 Pit 3:   found in 1996; 25 meters northwest of No. 1 Pit. It was the command post of the armed forces, with 68 warriors and a chariot led by four horses.

 There is also a Pit 4 between Pit 2 and Pit 3, but it has no terracotta sculptures or other relics inside except some backfilled soil, so not open to tourists. 

2. Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Park (Lishan Garden)

 Insider's Suggestion:   extra 2 hours, for slow paced travelers, in-depth visit

centering on the burial mound of Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, with several Accessory Pits around, including:

 Pit K0006 – Civil Official Figures

 Pit K0007 – Bronze Aquatic Birds (not open yet)

 Pit K9801 – Stone Armor and Helmets (not open yet)

 Pit K9901 – Acrobatics Figures
 

Currently, there are no direct public transport means to Terracotta Army from downtown Xi'an. Therefore, the best option is to join a Xi'an day tour involving this site with attracting service and price.

If you wish to travel independently, please follow the following instructions:
1. Take metro line 1 to Fangzhicheng, transfer to metro line 9 and get off at Qinling West Station. Then take the shuttle bus 617, which operates between 6:30 and 20:30 to the museum. Passengers can also get off at Huaqing Pool Station on metro line 9, and then take Lintong Bus 602 to the Terracotta Army.

2. Take metro line 1 to the terminal stop Fangzhicheng, then take the tourist bus 5 (306) from a roadside bus stop 25-30 meters north to the nearby Fangzhicheng Bus Station, which operate between 7:00 and 19:00, at the fare of CNY 5. It will take you to the Terracotta Warriors Museum.

3. A taxi from downtown Xi'an to the museum takes 40-50 minutes and costs about CNY 150.

How to get to Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an Airport

1. Take airport shuttle bus Lintong Line to Xi'an University Science and Technology in one hour, and then take Lintong Bus 602, or tourist bus line 5 (306) to the museum in 30 minutes.
2. Take airport metro line to Beikezhan (Xi'an North Railway Station), change to line 4 to Wulukou, then change to line 1 to Fangzhicheng, and last take metro line 9 to Huaqing Pool, where you can take Lintong Bus 602 to Terracotta Army. 
3. A taxi from Xi'an Airport to Terracotta Army takes 70 minutes and costs about CNY 200.

How to get to Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an North Railway Station

1. Take metro line 2 to Beidajie, then change to line 1 to Fangzhicheng, next change to line 9 and get off at Huaqing Pool. Finally take Lintong Bus 602 to get there.
2. Taxi: 1 hour; about CNY 160.

How to get to Terracotta Army from Beijing / Shanghai / Hong Kong
 
Ticket Price

CNY 120; free for children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) by a paying adult.
 Notes:
1. The fare is for the through ticket of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, including the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Park (Lishan Garden), and the shuttle bus between the two spots available from 8:30 to 18:30.
2. Visitors need to show identity cards or passports when buying tickets and entering the museum.

Audio Guide Rent: CNY 40 per person; Deposit: CNY 100
Opening Hours March 16 to November 15: 8:30 - 18:30, ticketing stops at 17:00;
November 16 to March 15: 8:30 - 18:00, ticketing stops at 16:30.
Time for a Visit 3 hours
  
 Military Formation           Weaponry 

Features of Statues


 Stallions or mares are the war horses?
 4 Sites of Terracotta Warriors besides Xi’an Terracotta Army
 Ancient Greek Art Inspired China's Terracotta Army? Impossible!
 Terracotta Army Boosted the Rise of Modern Europe
Top 10 Things to Do in Xi'an
Top 10 China Tourist Places for Culture Lovers
 Top 10 China Tourist Attractions List 
 

Learn More Stories about Terracotta Army


1. About the Master of Terracotta Army China - Qin Shi Huang

Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had begun to prepare for his mausoleum. Taking 11 years to finish, the mausoleum is speculated to house many treasures and sacrificial objects. The most amazing masterpiece should be the Terracotta soldiers guarding the emperor in his afterlife.

In spite of his great achievements during the reign, like unifying China, building the Great Wall and unifying characters, currency, weights and measures, Qin Shi Huang was a cruel ruler and his highly controversial deeds included burning books and burying scholars alive. Because of his tyrannical policies, the Qin Empire he established was not so peaceful and he himself did not have a happy ending. He died suddenly during an inspection tour and the reason was still unknown till today. Over 30 of his sons and daughters were slaughtered by Hu Hai, his successor and 18th son. Hu Hai was killed by Zhao Gao, his trusted official. Zhao Gao was killed by Zi Ying, his grandson. Zi Ying was killed by Xiang Yu, leader of the rebel army back then. Finally, the Qin Empire fell only 15 years after being founded. 
 

2. Latest Archaeological Discoveries Nearby

Around the Terracotta Army, there are many other accessory pits of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum. Since 2011, detailed and careful archaeology has been going on to the west of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum mound, discovering a total of 9 tombs in a row from west to east. Later starting from 2013, tomb no.1 has been continuously excavated. Recently, excavation on the tomb passage, tomb chamber and three horse-and-cart accessory pits have been finished. 

In addition to a large amount of potteries, bronze wares, jade wares, iron wares, and other small golden and silver burial items, the most significant excavations are several carts in different shapes and ranks with different functions. Among them, the four-wheel but one-shaft cart is by now the only one excavated from a burial pit. It has colorful paintings in red and green, and measures 7.2 meters (7.9 yards) in length and 2.6 meters (2.8 yards) in width. 

After basic analysis, archaeologists gave the views: The tomb no.1 is currently found the largest, highest-ranked and best-preserved tomb of high-ranking nobles of the Qin Dynasty, reputed the “No.1 Accessory Tomb of the Qin Empire”. 

- Last updated on Mar. 06, 2024 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on Terracotta Army, Xi'an
Asked by Cristina Sanjose from ESPAÑA | Mar. 14, 2024 10:11Reply
Lockers for luggage at Terracota Warriors Museum
Good morning,

We will be only one day in Xi'an to see the terracotta warriors (we are not staying overnight), where could we leave the suitcases to make the visit more comfortable? In the museum itself is there a place to leave large suitcases?

Thank you very much,
Answers (1)
Answered by Joshua | Mar. 15, 2024 00:27
00Reply


Yes, you can check your suitcases at the museum for free after the safety check. The deposit center is on the east of the ticket lobby.
Asked by Steve Braidwood from UK | Mar. 03, 2024 18:17Reply
Terracota army tickets for over-65s
How can older people buy tickets online, ideally in English?
Answers (1)
Answered by Andrew | Mar. 03, 2024 19:32
00Reply


You can make a reservation on its official website.
Asked by Lina from FINLAND | Jul. 12, 2023 11:12Reply
Buying tickets onsite
Hi! Is it currently possible to buy tickets onsite at the ticket office?
Answers (3)
Answered by Thomas | Jul. 12, 2023 19:55
00Reply


No, it requires all visitors to book on line in advance. You can book at its official website.
Answered by Irene | Sep. 29, 2023 17:27
00Reply


Can I have the link to the official website?
Answered by Paul | Oct. 06, 2023 19:35
00Reply


The official webpage is:bmy.com.cn/index.html

BTW, this website, TravelChinaGuide also offers ticket booking service for the Terracotta Warriors. If you have any difficulity booking on the official web, you may contact this web to book a ticket easily.
Asked by Ruby rose Prada from AUSTRALIA | Jun. 01, 2023 16:34Reply
why did they use the terra cotta warriors
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Jun. 01, 2023 19:07
00Reply


They are burial objects for China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang and they were built to guard him in the underground world.
Asked by Ealina from CAPE VERDE | Feb. 07, 2023 18:16Reply
Terracotta Warriors
How many terracotta warriors are there in total?
Answers (1)
Answered by Andy | Apr. 23, 2023 18:21
00Reply


There are around 8,000 in total, scattering in 3 pits.
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