The Bronze Chariots and Horses Museum is located within the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, also known as Lishan Garden. It showcases two large-scale models of bronze chariots and horses, labeled "No.1 Bronze Chariot and Horses" and "No.2 Bronze Chariot and Horses" based on their excavation order. These half-size replicas of real chariots and horses from the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC) served as ceremonial vehicles for Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s inspection tours in his afterlife, with carefully recreated details. Cast in bronze with painted surfaces, the chariots and horses are equipped with various weapons and decorated with gold and silver ornaments. They are the earliest, most complex, largest, and best-preserved bronze chariots and horses ever found in China, earning the title "Crown of Bronze" and hailed as the ultimate luxury vehicles of ancient China.

Additionally, the museum's second floor features replicas of parts and cargo from the chariots and horses displayed in multiple cases, allowing visitors to observe their intricate craftsmanship up close.

No.1 Bronze Chariot and Horses

No.2 Bronze Chariot and Horses

In December 1980, these two bronze chariots and horses were excavated about 20 meters (22 yards) west of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum at a depth of 7.8 meters (25.6 feet). They were originally enclosed in wooden chambers that had been buried for over two thousand years. Although unearthed in over 3,000 fragments, the pieces mostly kept their original positions with all components intact. After eight years of careful restoration, the chariots were fully reconstructed and displayed to the public.
 

Measurement: 225 cm long x 152 cm high (89 x 60 in.)
Weight: 1,061 kilograms (2,339 pounds)

The No.1 bronze chariot, known as the "Standing Chariot", was designed for inspections, hunting, or sightseeing. Its compartment features an open structure resembling a modern tricycle carriage, with a standing charioteer positioned at the front inside the compartment, driving four proudly erect bronze horses. At the center of the compartment stands a bronze umbrella whose design is similar to that of modern umbrellas, and it is considered the earliest known sunshade in the world. The chariot is equipped with some weapons, including a bronze crossbow, shield, and arrowheads, along with gold and silver ornaments weighing over 3,000 grams (6.6 pounds).

Charioteer Standing inside the Compartment

The compartment has an open structure.

 

Measurement: 317 cm long x 106 cm high (125 x 42 in.)
Weight: 1,241 kilograms (2,736 pounds)
 
The No.2 bronze chariot, called the "Seated Chariot", was designed for long-distance travel and rest. Also pulled by four horses, it features a kneeling charioteer behind the horses. Its main character is the enclosed compartment, measuring 78 cm (30.7 in.) wide and 88 cm (34.6 in.) deep, divided into front and rear sections. The smaller front section serves as the charioteer’s seat, with a lift-side door for boarding, while the spacious rear section allows passengers to sit or lie down. The chariot has three windows: one on the partition wall between sections and two on each side of the compartment, with the main door at the back. The roof is covered by a near-circular canopy with a radius of about 65 cm (25.6 in.), embodying the design of "round heaven and square earth," which symbolizes the Chinese pursuit of a harmonious life. Decorative patterns adorn both the inside and outside of the compartment, complemented by gold and silver ornaments weighing approximately 4,000 grams (8.8 pounds).
 

Side View of No.2 Bronze Chariot and Horses

The door is on the back of the chariot.

 

Each bronze chariot is pulled by four bronze horses. These horses are depicted with powerful muscles and lifelike expressions. Their bodies are white, with pink drawings painted on their muzzles. Their harnesses and ornaments are fully intact, with the gold and silver decorations making up half of the total components. The two horses in the middle bear the main pulling forces and are directly connected to the chariot shaft, while the outer horses assist in pulling and help maintain direction. To precisely control the horse's position and ensure synchronized pulling, Qin craftsmen designed ingenious control mechanisms that kept the four horses at proper distances, neither interfering with each other nor hindering their combined effort. 
 

Four Powerful Bronze Horses

Bronze Horse with Gold Ornaments

 

On the second floor of the Bronze Chariots and Horses Museum, replicas of key components and decorations of the bronze chariots and horses are displayed by category. For instance, the horse's gold forhead ornament, the gold annular components of the bronze umbrella, and the connecting rings of the reins. Though theses exhibits, visitors can observe the details up close, gaining an appreciation for the advanced craftsmanship and luxious royal chariots and horses of ancient times.

 

The Bronze Chariots and Horses in Lishan Garden are the earliest, largest, most complex, and best-preserved burial bronze chariots and horses ever discovered. The No.1 chariot measures 2.25 meters (7.4 feet) long, while the No.2 chariot is 3.17 meters (10.4 feet) long, with a combined weight of nearly 2.3 tons (5,075 pounds), far surpassing any other ancient bronze chariots. Their structure accurately replicates real carriages in the Qin dynasty, with details of a single shaft, double wheels, and a compartment clearly visible, even showing how the charioteer controlled the reins. The harnesses, ornaments, and other fittings remain intact, clearly demonstrating the driving system. Notably, the bridles and gear are crafted from bronze, gold, or silver, still as pristine as before.
  

The Umbrella of the Chariot under Repair

The Wheels of the Chariot

 

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