Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The on-site theatre gives a useful primer on how the figures were sculpted.
You could also employ a guide (¥150) or try the audioguide (¥40, plus ¥200
deposit), although the latter is somewhat useless, being difficult to understand
and not very compelling. Then visit the site in reverse, which enables you to
build up to the most impressive pit for a fitting finale.
Start with the smallest pit,
Pit 3
, containing 72 warriors and horses, which is
believed to be the army headquarters due to the number of high-ranking of-
ficers unearthed here. In the next pit,
Pit 2
, containing around 1300 warriors
and horses, you get to examine five of the soldiers up close: a kneeling archer,
a standing archer, a cavalryman and his horse, a mid-ranking officer and a
general. The level of detail is extraordinary: the expressions, hairstyles, ar-
mour and even the tread on the footwear are all unique.
The largest pit,
Pit 1
, is the most imposing. Housed in a building the size of
an aircraft hangar, it is believed to contain 6000 warriors (only 2000 are on dis-
play) and horses, all facing east and ready for battle. The vanguard of three
rows of archers (both crossbow and longbow) is followed by the main force of
soldiers, who originally held spears, swords, dagger-axes and other long-shaft
weapons. The infantry were accompanied by 35 chariots, though these, made
of wood, have long since disintegrated.
Almost as extraordinary as the soldiers is a pair of bronze chariots and
horses unearthed just 20m west of the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang. These are now
on display, together with some of the original weaponry, in a small
museum
to
the right of the main entrance.
The Army of Terracotta Warriors is easily reached by public bus. From the
car park at Xi'an train station, take one of the green Terracotta Warriors
minibuses (¥8, one hour) or bus 306 (¥8, one hour), both of which travel via
Huaqing Hot Springs and the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang. The car park for all
vehicles is a good 15-minute walk from the Terracotta Warriors site (but the
ticket kiosk is near the parking lot). Electric carts do the run for ¥5.
TOMB OF QIN SHI HUANG
( Qin Shihuang Ling; admission free with Terracotta Warrior ticket;
8am-6pm Mar-Nov, to 5pm Dec-Feb)
In its time, this tomb must have been one
of the grandest mausoleums the world had ever seen.
Historic Site
