TERRACOTTA ARMY
It's hard to put into words how it feels at that first moment of stepping into the giant warehouse, and seeing the serried ranks of terracotta soldiers, lined up before you. This truly is one of the wonders of the world. Visitors to the area usually stay in Xian, which was the capital of China in ancient times. From Xian you take a bus to the site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum in Lintong, where the warriors are on display in several large hanger like buildings. Excavations of the three pits are ongoing, and as you walk around the outside of the main hanger, you can see the warriors that have recently been dug up, which are being reconstructed. Only a fraction of the warriors have been excavated, and work is ongoing. The warriors are lifesize, and each one has different features. Many are standing, but there are also kneeling warriors, archers, chariots and horses. It's amazing to think that the warriors were hidden for centuries, and only rediscovered by some workers digging for a well, in 1974. FIND OUT MORE |