Terracotta Army is one of the most spectacular and important places to visit in the world. It has a 2,200-year-old painted-ceramic army of more than 8000 soldiers buried to “protect” the tomb of the first Qin emperor. Upon entry you are given a “smart card” which you use later to get into other buildings. You can purchase slides, photos and books of reasonable quality in souvenir shops.

Terracotta Army is a puzzle because the emperor left no record of its existence. Excavation started in 1976. Permanent buildings protect the army land tourists from most of the elements, and you are able to walk around the periphery of these once-buried relics. If you look carefully, you should see bits of the original colors, most lost once exposed to air.

Local peasants digging a well discovered the relics in 1974. Some of these men now spend their time signing autographs on books you buy inside for Y180, and outside for Y95. Look for them in the Cinema building. Also in the Cinema is a not-to-be missed .19-minute, 360 degree movie. It makes the history come alive and shows you the costumes, the war, the making of the ceramic army, and its burning. Groups might have to request a showing in English, but you don’t need any language to understand it.

There are three pits. Vault Number One, opened to the public in 1979, is 62 X 230 X 5 meters deep. Most of the army was found facing east, toward the tomb, 1.5 km away. The soldiers were in lines of roughly 70 across and 150 deep separated by 10 walls and 11 corridors.

The men are hollow from the thigh up and made in two parts; they are 1.78-1.87 meters tall. The soldiers in front hold crossbows; also in front were bells and drums. Charioteers hold their hands out before them as if still clutching reins. The horses originally wore harnesses with brass ornaments and are a breed native to Hechu in Gansu. You can distinguish the officers from the soldiers by their clothing and armor. Is every one of the 600 faces here different? Judge for your- self. This pit actually had 6000 warriors but only 600 are visible. The rest will be replaced when repaired. Re-searchers believe that kilns were built around the molded figures (probably two horses at a time) and destroyed after firing. An exhibit explains this on the second floor of Vault Number Two. There are remains of 30 wooden chariots.

Vault Number Two is in a separate building, 124 X 98 meters, holding cavalrymen, archers, charioteers and infantrymen, some kneeling and shooting. There’s also Vault Number Three which has 68 officers and was probably the “command post.” You pay extra to visit these two unless you our card. In Vault Number Two, look carefully for the charred remains ceiling, believed burnt by farmers angry at the emperor. Near the main museum is the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Room with two of the r bronze chariots found. These are also outstanding and you should see at close range.