Take On The Terracotta Army
Still to do
Thousands of life-sized clay warriors in battle formation, each with his own face, guarding an emperor for over 2,200 years.
The adventure
In 1974, farmers digging a well near Xi'an struck fragments of clay. What they had found was an army. Walk into the vast hall over Pit 1 and it stretches out below you: row upon row of infantry standing in long trenches, in formation, with horses and the traces of wooden chariots among them.
Get close to the railing and the detail is uncanny. Every soldier has his own face, hairstyle and expression; some have moustaches, some seem to be smiling, and archers kneel with their hands curled around weapons that have long since rotted away. Faint traces show they were once brightly painted. They were made to protect Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, in the afterlife, and his burial mound nearby has still never been opened.
Why it’s epic
- More than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and hundreds of horses are thought to lie in the pits, many still unexcavated.
- Pit 1 alone is around 230 metres long and is thought to hold about 6,000 figures.
- Qin Shi Huang, who died in 210 BC, unified China and began joining up the walls that became the Great Wall.
- The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
What it is
The Terracotta Army has more than 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers buried with China's first emperor.
How to do it
Take a bus or taxi from Xi'an, about an hour away. Pit 1 is the most impressive.
Top tip
Hire a guide at the entrance to explain the site.
Need to know
- Check China's current visa rules before you book, as entry requirements for British visitors have been changing.
- Tickets are booked with your passport details, and the site is busiest on Chinese public holidays such as Golden Week in early October.
- Xi'an is around four and a half hours from Beijing by high-speed train.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- April to May, September to October
- Fly into
- XIY airport
Long-haul flights to China are the main cost; the site and Xi'an itself are good value.
Make it happen
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Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
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