The Terracotta Army is one of the must-visit attractions for all travelers to China. The thrilling exhibition reveals the secrets behind the 2,000 year old army of life-size clay soldier poised for battle, that guarded the tomb of China’s first emperor, until workers digging a water well outside the city of Xi’an, in 1974 struck upon one of the greatest archeological discoveries in the world.
Impressive is that each soldier has unique facial expressions and positioned according to rank. Even if they are gray today, patches of paint hint at once brightly colored clothes. Further excavations have revealed swords, arrow tips, and other weapons, many in pristine condition.
The soldiers are in trenchlike, underground corridors. In some of the corridors, clay horses are aligned four abreast and behind them are wooden chariots.
Believe it or not, the Terracotta Army, how was called, belonged to Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China and it is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 B.C. with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife.
Well, Egyptians have the pyramids, the Chinese have the Terracotta Army. The funerals were pretty important that days.
In 246 B.C, at the young age of 13, Ying Zheng took the throne. He unified China in 221 B.C. for the first time in Chinese history, took the name of Qin Shi Huang Di-the First Emperor of Qin and established Qin Dynasty (221–206 B.C.), thus starting China’s over 2000 years’ feudal society.
During his rule, Qin standardized coins, weights, and measures; interlinked the states with canals and roads; and is credited for building the first version of the Great Wall.
According to writings of court historian Siam Qian during the following Han dynasty, Qin ordered the mausoleum’s construction shortly after taking the throne. More than 700,000 laborers worked on the project, but it was stopped in 209 B.C. amid uprisings a year after Qin’s death.
As per to date, four pits have been partially excavated. Three are filled with the terracotta soldiers, horse-drawn chariots, and weapons. The fourth pit is empty, a testament to the original unfinished construction.
Archaeologists estimate the pits may contain as many as 8,000 figures, 130 chariots, and over 600 horses, but the total may never be known.
Qin’s tomb itself remains unexcavated, though Siam Qian’s writings suggest even greater treasures.
Where:
The Terracotta Army is located at 42 kilometers (26 miles) east of Xi’an in Lintong District, China, taking about 1 hour by car from the city.
The most convenient way to visit the Terracotta Army is to take a private tour. Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the Terracotta Army. Will also help guarantee that you have an English speaking guide.
When:
Since it is an indoor attraction, which is not likely to be affected by weather, so it can be visited all year round just try to avoid the weekends and Chinese public holidays such as Labor Day Holiday (May 1–3) and National Day Holiday (October 1–7). However since is a must see attraction for travelers visiting China, it will always be crowded but seems that before 10:00 AM and lunch time tend to have fewer tourists which means you’ll be able to enjoy the museum at your own leisurely pace.
This is such a very special place to visit, so if you plan a vacation to China, be sure to add it to your itinerary!
It’s worth it!


🙂 Thanks for the history lesson.
I have seen the Terracotta Army via various television documentaries.
Thank you very much 😊 Yes, I think is a very popular place and they do a lot of documentaries 😊
That’s a great info👍
Thank you 😊
I want to see the teracotta army too!I hope you realize your wonderful trip!😁😁😁
Thank you 😊I hope so 😉
wow wonderful post….china is very historic country…still largest army in the word….nice place for visit
Thank you 😊Yes, a wonderful place full of history!
Thank you for sharing! Never heard of it, great information and great place! Each soldier has different facial expression, oh wow!
Hope you will visit it very soon and hope I will as well 😊👍
Thank you Huguette! Yes, it must be stunning….a full army made by terracotta…it must be impressive! I hope we will see it someday 😉
Hope so 😊💕
This would be very interesting to see!
Thank you 😊Indeed! Wonderful place to see!
Interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading 😊
Terracotta Warriors are awesome to visit. Xian is also quite a hidden gem and is full of rich and diverse history being at one of the end points of the Great Silk/Spide Route to the Middle East and Europe beyond. Great post.
Thank you very much for your kind words! Definitely an interesting place to visit! A lot of history and wonderful places!
I always wonder about the things we do…disturbing the graves and tombs of those who came before us. It seems wrong to me. I wouldn’t want anyone to disturb those I knew, or take things from them. How do we have the right to do that? Native Americans now have to be asked, and give their permission, before archeologists can do anything, which is only right. We don’t respect others, even in death. It’s grave robbing with a college degree, but grave robbing, nonetheless. It’s breaking the spell that was woven all those years ago, with reasons we know nothing about. Just seems wrong.
Well I believe you’re right but I think all countries they have some rules in these cases….I think archeologists are doing a wonderful job. Without them we would not be able to learn about our ancestors…a lot of lost history….of course everything must be preserved carefully without robberies….
You created an interest in me to visit and see the Terracotta army. Good post. Have a great week ahead.
I’m glad! I think is really a nice place to see 😉 Have a wonderful week too 😊🌷
Never heard about it. Great info. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for reading! We have a beautiful world to visit 😉😊
True that my friend
Thank you for telling a little history about the Terra-cotta Army. We have an upcoming trip to China and Japan, and we do have plans to stay in Xi’an and visit the site. I’m definitely hoping to get some great photos, and learn more about this historical site.
Please check out my Instagram page, and follow me there as well… Birdseyephotography1747.
Great! Have a wonderful trip! Definitely will be exciting 😊 Thank you for stopping by!
Yep! Cannot wait. Unfortunately our list is very long…
Yes…also ours 😊 Hopefully we will be able to see at least half 😊
A quick and fascinating history lesson
Thank you 😊Yes, our world is full of wonderful things to discover 😊
Thank you for this great history lesson. I have heard of the army in passing but next knew the history now I do! Thank you !
Thank you very much for reading! We have such a beautiful world full of history and places to discover 😊🌷
Wow, now that’s different!!
Thank you for stopping by 😊🌷
You’re very welcome 😊
Your travel bucket is so rich 👍
What can I say, we have a beautiful world and I love to travel 😊🌞
The King Who Made War Illegal!
Qin Shi Huang. The Great Peace-Maker and Nation-Builder
https://wordpress.com/post/shibumimanagementcanada.wordpress.com/736
(Read what the terra cotta “army” was really intended for)
Thank you 😊 Great post!