Terracotta Army 兵马俑Bīngmǎyǒng

Why go to Terracotta Army

Found by farmers digging a well in 1974, the Terracotta Army is a buried host of clay warriors, horses and chariots placed to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China. In Pit 1, ranks of infantry stand in battle formation under a vast hangar-like hall, each figure with its own face, hairstyle and armour.

The story

The soldiers were once brightly painted, but much of the pigment curled and flaked away soon after it met the air. The emperor's own burial mound nearby, which the historian Sima Qian described as holding rivers of mercury, has never been opened.

What to see at Terracotta Army

• Pit 1 一号坑: The main army, more than 3,000 figures in eleven parallel corridors, in a pit some 230 metres long. It is the first and largest hall, and the best place to see the formation.
• Pit 3 三号坑: The army's command post: high-ranking officers and a war chariot. It is much smaller, so you can see the figures at closer range.
• Pit 2 二号坑: Cavalry, infantry and chariots in a mixed formation, including the kneeling and standing crossbowmen found at its east end. Its display is being refitted in stages, so expect route changes.
• Bronze chariots 铜车马: Two near-half-size bronze chariots with their horses and drivers, found in 1980 near the burial mound and restored over five years. They are kept at the museum and are not allowed to travel abroad.
• Burial mound of Qin Shi Huang 秦始皇陵封土: The grassy mound, about 51 metres high, that covers the emperor's tomb. It is still unexcavated and sits at the centre of a much larger walled necropolis.

How to visit Terracotta Army

A common order is Pit 1, then Pit 3, then Pit 2, ending in the exhibition hall with the finds and the bronze chariots. The pits are close together and you walk between them. Pit 2 is being refitted in stages, so check the museum's notice for the current route. The burial mound is a separate stop; see the tips. A half day covers the pits and hall; add the mound to fill a full day.

How to get to Terracotta Army

The museum is about an hour east of central Xi'an by taxi, or by tourist bus from the square outside Xi'an Railway Station.

Where to stay

Base yourself in Xi'an, about 35 km away: the site is a day trip by taxi or tourist bus, and the old city and its metro have far more hotels and food.

What to eat

• Huojing persimmon 火晶柿子: A Lintong speciality with a fiery red skin and a very sweet, almost seedless flesh, in season in autumn.
• Lintong pomegranate 临潼石榴: Large, thin-skinned and juicy, a protected local product that is sold as fresh fruit and juice around Lintong.

Tips for visiting Terracotta Army

• Book ahead with your passport and arrive early to beat the tour groups to Pit 1.
• Hire a licensed guide or audio guide; the pits make far more sense with context.
• Your ticket also covers Qin Shi Huang's burial mound, linked by a shuttle bus.

Nearby

• Huaqing Palace 华清宫 under 10 km
  Hot springs at the foot of Mount Li where a Tang emperor wintered with Yang Guifei
• Daming Palace National Heritage Park 大明宫国家遗址公园 30 km
  Earthen terraces and a rebuilt gatehouse marking out the lost palace of the Tang emperors
• Han Yangling Mausoleum 汉阳陵 30 km
  Walk on glass above burial pits full of armless clay figures at a Han emperor's tomb
• Forest of Stone Steles Museum 西安碑林博物馆 30 km
  Inscribed stone tablets of classics, calligraphy and Silk Road history by the south wall
• Bell Tower and Drum Tower 钟楼·鼓楼 30 km
  Two Ming towers at the heart of the walled city, where bell and drum once marked the day
• Xi'an City Wall 西安城墙 30 km
  Cycle all 14 km of a Ming city wall, high above Xi'an's rooftops

Also within 30 km: Weinan Taohuayuan Folk Culture Park 渭南桃花源 (20 km), Xi'an Expo Park 西安世博园 (20 km), Zhaohui Pagoda 昭慧塔 (20 km), Weinan Museum 渭南市博物馆 (20 km), Bailucang 白鹿仓 (20 km), Banpo Museum 半坡博物馆 (20 km).

Trips with Terracotta Army

• China in 10 days on a first visit: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Suzhou 10 days · Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Suzhou
• Two weeks in China: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai 14 days · Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Leshan, Guilin and Shanghai
• North China’s heritage line: Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi’an 9 days · Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi'an
• The Silk Road by train: Xi’an to Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi 11 days · Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi

On the map

Open Terracotta Army on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• Wikipedia (Chinese)