China Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors

Monday morning, we met our driver around 7:30 am to head to the Terracotta Warriors. We wanted to get there early to avoid some of the crowds. It was about a one hour drive. (It seems like everything was a one hour drive in Xi'an.) The Terracotta Warriors were amazing! They were created over 2200 years ago to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China. These larger than life warriors were meant to be his army in the afterlife.

Sign at the front of the Terracotta Warriors. No idea what it says but it looks cool.

Once you buy your tickets, there is a nice walk to get to the Terracotta Warriors.

There they are! This is Pit 1, which is the largest pit (open to the public at least) and contains the infantry. It is what is most commonly seen on photographs of the Terracotta Warriors. It is impressive!

Close up of some of the warriors. Each face was individually detailed after being cast in a mold.

Emily, Wendy, Me and Louise with the warriors behind us.

Right behind the reconstructed warriors are lots of pieces of warriors awaiting reconstruction.

Profile shot.

Where the farmers were digging a well in 1974 when they discovered the warriors. What a find!

Archaeologists working in part of Pit 1.

Some of the warriors that are being reconstructed.

Horses being reconstructed. (Either that or they are getting new shoes!)

Numbered pieces in Pit 1. Talk about a massive jigsaw puzzle!

We then went to Pit 3, which appears to have been the military command center. Here, four horses pulled a chariot (although the chariot is no longer in existence).

Warriors driving the horses.

Other officers in Pit 3.

We then went to Pit 2, which is only partially excavated and contains cavalry and soldiers. Here is an example of an unexcavated area. You can see where the support beams are.

Pieces they are putting together.

Pieces of warriors and horses in Pit 2.

A partial warrior.

A kneeling archer.

This archer has a small amount of color on his clothes still. The warriors initially were all painted although most the paint has faded after being exposed to air.

Middle Ranking Officer

High Ranking Officer

Cavalryman with Saddled Warhorse

Standing Archer

Some of the weapons. The wood is not original, but the metal is. The metal has a thin layer of chromium which has protected it against corrosion. This was "invented" in the West in the mid 1900s but was obviously used a few thousand years earlier in China! 

Bronze arrowheads

Sword

Imprint of a wheel.

Imprint of chariot.

The exhibition hall is housed in a beautiful building.

One of two bronze chariots that has been unearthed near what is believed to be Emperor Qin Shi's burial mound, which is located about one mile west of the Terracotta Warrior pits. They are half life size. 

Horses pulling the chariot.

Horses on the second chariot.

The second chariot.

Close up view of reconstructed warrior.