Xi'an - The Terracotta Warriors

The Army of the Terracotta Warriors is the most famous archaeological finds in the world.  The discovery of the army of warriors was totally by mistake by peasant farmers drilling for a well in 1974.

Elaine the warrior.

Debbie the warrior.

Pit #1 is the largest pit and the most important.  This pit is housed in a huge building and is believed to contain 6000 warriors but only 2000 are on display.  These warriors and horses are all facing the east and ready for battle.  Each terracotta warrior has a different face and stature.  You can tell the ranking of the warriors by the way their hair is wrapped.  The more wraps the higher the rank.

Pit #2 contains 1300 warriors and horses.  There are 5 soldiers - a kneeling archer, a standing archer, a cavalryman and his horse, mid-ranking officer and a general up close.  The level of detail is extraordinary: the expressions, hairstyles, armour and even the tread on the footwear are all unique.

Pit #3 is the smallest pit which contains 72 warriors and horses, believed to be the army headquarters because of the high ranking officers unearthed here.

This is how most of the terra cotta warriors were found and then had to be reassembled.

We enjoyed a Tang Dynasty Dancing Show with a Dumpling Banquet in the evening.