4 Sites of Terracotta Warriors besides Xi’an Terracotta Army

When people think of terracotta warriors, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang in Xi'an. With nearly 8,000 life‑sized terracotta soldiers showing stern faces and rigid formations, it represents an underground army ready for battle. However, few visitors know that less than a hundred years after the First Emperor's death, four other terracotta armies were created during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). Compared to the Qin warriors, they are less imposing but far more lifelike. Though smaller in scale, they are full of unforgettable details. These are not fakes or imitations but are made for the afterlife of Han emperors and regional kings, serving as a distinct type of spiritual army. Below is a closer look at each of these four sites.
 

⭐️Location: Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province 

Han Yang Ling is the joint mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han and his empress. The burial figures found here cover an extraordinarily wide range, including palace ladies, eunuchs, civil officials, soldiers, dancers, musicians and even acrobatic performers. Tens of thousands of terracotta figures have been unearthed, each about 60 cm (25 in) tall. This variety reflects the ancient belief that death is a continuation of life, so the mausoleum owner needed full service and entertainment in the afterlife.

The most striking figures are the many naked, armless warriors. Two thousand years ago, these figures wore real silk or linen clothes that matched their different ranks, and they had movable wooden arms. However, after more than two millennia underground, the clothing and wooden arms completely decayed, leaving only the bare terracotta bodies. Although the splendid garments have disappeared, what remains unexpectedly reveals the beauty of the human form, which is why some people call them "Eastern David and Eastern Venus."
 

Armless Han Yang Ling Terracotta Warriors

A happy, smiling expression is another feature of these figures. Most of them smile, some faintly and others as if they cannot help grinning. This reflects the era in which these figures were made, a time of social stability and relative prosperity. The warrior figures wear armor and hold swords and shields, but they were actually palace guards in peacetime who had no war to fight, so their expressions are relaxed and easy. The musician figures, in contrast, look clever and lively, as if lost in rhythm. This site also yielded the first group of eunuch terracotta figures ever found in Chinese archaeology. They are shorter than ordinary soldiers, with soft facial features and a slightly shy expression. Today, Han Yang Ling has an underground museum where visitors can walk on glass walkways and look down at the warriors and thousands of other cultural relics beneath their feet, creating a feeling of travelling back to the Han Dynasty.

 You may like: Han Yang Ling Museum - Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty
 

⭐️Location: Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province

The Yangjiawan terracotta warriors were accidentally found by local farmers in 1965, a full nine years before the Qin Terracotta Army came to light. As the first large-scale terracotta warrior complex ever excavated in China, this Han terracotta warriors pit astonished archaeologists before the world knew of the Qin warriors. Today, most of the figures are displayed in the Xianyang Museum, where a replica of the original pit recreates the complete organization of a Western Han army. In total, 1,965 infantry figures and 583 cavalry figures have been unearthed, forming a force often called the "Three Thousand Han Warriors". Although the figures are only one‑third life size, they lose none of their presence. Standing before this orderly legion today, visitors can truly feel the strength and discipline of the Western Han army.

This terracotta army consists of both infantry and cavalry. The infantry figures have different roles, such as flag‑bearers, record‑keepers, commanders and weapon‑carriers. The cavalry, however, is the real protagonist. The 583 cavalry figures are arranged in a separate formation and come in two types: larger ones for frontal assault and smaller ones carrying quivers on their backs for outflanking maneuvers. This shows that by the early Han, cavalry had already become the main fighting force.

Another interesting detail is that the warriors have three distinct face shapes. Square faces represent people from the Guanzhong region, that is central Shaanxi; lean faces represent the people from Tianshui area in Gansu; and high cheekbones with hair buns at the back represent Sichuan people. This shows that as early as the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 9 AD), the army already drew soldiers from different parts of the country, showing a blending of ethnic groups.

⭐️Location: Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Discovered in 1984, the Shizishan terracotta army has yielded approximately 4,000 figures, including officers, infantry, cavalry and terracotta horses. They form a complete military formation that symbolizes the underground force guarding the tomb of the King of Chu. These figures are simple in shape, with a distinctive freehand style. Instead of representing every physical detail, the craftsmen used tiny changes in the eyes, brows, mouths and noses to depict the rich inner world of each figure.

What makes the site particularly remarkable is the warriors' expressions. Most of them are not smiling but crying. Some look upwards with open mouths as if crying out in sorrow; others lower their heads, with furrowed brows, looking extremely desperate; still others lean on each other as if offering comfort. The reason lies in history: the tomb owner was Liu Wu, the third king of Chu during the Western Han Dynasty. He had joined a rebellion against the emperor. Eventually, he was defeated and committed suicide, and his tomb was hastily constructed. The craftsmen probably knew that the master of the warriors had died as a failure, so they carved the sad expressions on the warriors' faces. In other words, what visitors see is not a powerful army, but the final expression of a failed man.

Today, tourists can view the infantry figures at the Xuzhou Museum of Han Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Even more striking is the nearby Underwater Terracotta Warriors Museum, where the cavalry figures and horses are displayed, a very unusual and fascinating sight well worth a visit.
 

⭐️Location: Jinan City, Shandong Province

Discovered in 2002, the Weishan terracotta army is the only large-scale terracotta warrior group found in Shandong Province and the third largest in China, following the Qin warriors and the Yangjiawan figures. More than 170 terracotta figures, over 50 terracotta horses and 4 terracotta chariots have been unearthed in its three pits. The figures form a complete noble procession: cavalry in the front, horse-drawn chariots in the middle, and infantry with weapons at the back, accompanied by terracotta drums and other instruments. Standing before this army, one can easily imagine a Han regional king travelling outside, with drums pounding, music playing and banners fluttering.

The arrangement strictly follows the rules of the Han Dynasty nobility. In the front are thirty cavalry riders, with five in each row. They look spirited and proud, and their horses are well built and powerful. In the middle are three chariots: the first two are four-horse-driven standing chariots, and the last is a two-horse-driven light chariot, with guards walking on both sides. At the rear is an infantry square of about a hundred men, each carrying a shield. Both the horses and figures were made using molds, so all figures of the same size look very similar. Meanwhile, the difference in the figures' size reflects their status: bigger figures with higher status usually stand in front, and smaller ones with lower status behind.

According to historical materials, the tomb owner also took part in the same rebellion as the owner of Shizishan Terracotta Warriors. He was defeated and committed suicide, so the construction of the tomb was cut short. Many figures were crushed when the wooden roof collapsed, and restoration work continues today. In Pit 2, archaeologists found a graceful female servant figurine with gentle eyebrows and a soft expression, named the "First Beauty of Weishan."  Overall, the Weishan figures are more varied and less uniform than the Qin warriors, reflecting the Han Dynasty's greater emphasis on liveliness and diversity in burial goods.

 Further Reading:

• Where are the Terracotta Warriors Located?
• Top 20 FAQs about Terracotta Army
• 15 Little-Known Facts about the Terracotta Army
• Discovery of Terracotta Army in 1974
• Overseas Exhibitions of Terracotta Army