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Sep

01

2012

Oct

31

2012


Be a part of an Ancient Army at the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors

Published by Paul Cowles, Editor

Country: China

The Experience

Traverse to the time of Xiang’s Terracotta Warriors and roam amongst over 8,099 life sized sculptures of Chinese soldiers, horses, acrobats and other figures. Discovered unexpectedly in 1974 by farmers near Xi’an, Shaanxi province, they unearthed a clay head, unusual for a normal day of farming work. Unaware of the magnitude of this discovery until archeologists began excavation, they later ascertained that these statues were created by China’s first emperor Qin Shihuang, who instructed their creation to ensure the safe keeping of his remains after his death. Each statue of the Terra Cotta Warriors is unique, no two are exactly alike, and range in size from 6ft – 6ft 5inches. These elaborate works are estimated to have taken 11 years to complete. The details on each reflect their roles in the army with generals being the tallest and intricacies such as uniform colours painted to reflect individual ranks and roles. One of the most eloquent memorials in history, this brilliant mausoleum still preserves the rich cultural past of the Qin Dynasty through the eyes of thousands of soldiers.

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When to Go to Terra Cotta Warriors

Summer in Xi'an is hot and rainy while winter it is usually cold and dry, making spring and fall the peak times to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. Most sought to visit during early September and October, temperatures during this time of year range between 10 to 22 degrees Celsius, with little rain. The museum spans 16,300 meters, divided into three separate pits. Pit number 1 is the largest and was the first of the three sites to be opened to the public in 1979, followed by pit number 3 found in 1976, opened to the public in 1989, and pit number 2 also found in 1976 went on display in 1994. Undoubtedly thousands of statues remain hidden at this archaeological site.

Odds n' Ends

This landmark on all travelers’ itineraries, it is a site not to be missed when journeying to China. Entry fee to the park is approximately $13.00 Canadian between March – November, and $9.00 Canadian in the off season of December to February. Hours of operation are between 8am to 6pm, and suggested time to take in this experience is a minimum of half day if not a full. Work is ongoing to date just 1.5 kilometers east of Qin Huang’s Mausoleum.


Want a Guide?

China Express - GAP Adventures
China is a delicately balanced world where ancient culture blends in with modern conveniences with a touch of tradition. Discover the imperial wonders of Beijing, the intriguing collection of Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an and the vibrant cosmopolitan center that is Shanghai.

More Experiences Nearby

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China is the fourth largest country in the world, but when travelling through rural China, with combined train and bus journeys often lasting up to 36 hours, it can feel like the largest country in the world. Although this can be a test in personality and patience, put away those dark parts of your soul and remember that it’s about the journey, not the destination. Okay, maybe in China it actually is about the destination. My intrepid travel partner and I made the trip one hour east of Yongding to explore the world of the Hakka, (meaning “guest people”), an ...215 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

China Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
Welcome to China: vast, ambitious, proud, and transforming like never before. Speed down alleyways on your Beijing bicycle, slurp steaming noodles in the shadow of a Shanghai skyscraper and wake up spellbound to the desertscapes on Xinjiang. Whether you seek the Terracotta Warriors of ancient Xi'an or a few moments with the pandas of Chengdu, this bestselling guidebook will take you through the heart of China.
The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army (Hardcover)
Standing guard around the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the ranks of a terracotta army bear silent witness to the vast power of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, who unified China in 221 BCE.
Emperors Silent Army (Hardcover)
When three farmers, digging a well in a field near Xi'an, China, unearthed a pottery head, they were completely unaware of the magnitude of their discovery.

Elsewhere on the Web

Terracotta Warriors - Wikipedia.org
Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a collection of 8,099 larger-than-life Chinese terra cotta figures of warriors, horses, acrobats and other figures located near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
360 View of Pit 1 - World Heritage Tour.org
Travel Report China - Voyages.gc.ca
WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Media References

Xi´an welcomes Olympic flames (television)
Xi'an is a city whose history begins over 7000 years ago. Thousands of visitors from China and abroad come each year to gaze upon the faces of that history - the faces the terra-cotta warriors...
48 hours in Xian - The Vancouver Sun (newspaper)
IAN, China - Got 48 hours to explore Xian, the gritty Chinese city best known for its nearby Terracotta Army
VISITING CHINA'S ARCHEOLOGICAL TREASURES AT XIAN - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
CHINA is justly famous for its inventions. Gunpowder, paper and one of the world's great cuisines are but a few testaments to Chinese innovation. But the city of Xian, in the prov-ince of Shaanxi, can put forward a special claim to ingenuity: It invented China.
World: Asia-Pacific Pollution threat to terracotta army (television)
China's 2,000-year-old terracotta army is under threat from pollution, caused largely by tourists.

Language Guides

Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in China. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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