Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-sized ceramic soldiers, horses, and chariots guard the vast burial complex of China's first emperor.
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
- Country
- China
- Region
- Shaanxi
- Civilisation
- Qin
- Period
- 3rd century BCE
- UNESCO
- World Heritage
Through time
The story
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE in his mausoleum with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from approximately the late 200s BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The figures vary in height according to their rank, the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army hold more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remain in situ.
Other, non-military terracotta figures have since been found in other pits, including those of officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.
Adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What you will see
- Pit 1
- Bronze chariots
- Command figures
Before you go
- Check opening hours and ticket rules shortly before your visit — they change seasonally.
- Plan for the heat. Most ancient sites have little shade; go early or late.
- Respect the barriers. Fragile surfaces are protected for the next visitors.
Discoveries from Terracotta Army
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