Xi'an History of the Terracotta Army and Ancient Banpo Village - Page 4

City of Xi'an (Translation -- Western Peace)

Qin Shi Huangdi

Also east of the city is the most ancient relic of Imperial times, the terracotta army of Qin Shi Huangdi, the great First Emperor who united China and abolished the feudal system. A ruthless dictator, he conscripted a work force of 700,000 to build his mausoleum. Heaps of treasure was piled inside the huge burial chamber, whose ceiling reportedly formed a sky with pearls for stars. A hillock was built atop the tomb to conceal it. The site of the mausoleum has long been known, but it has not been excavated, and its contents remain a mystery.

Underground Terracotta Army

Farmers who were digging a well some distance from the tomb discovered the clay soldiers in 1974. Archaeologists called to the scene uncovered a vast army of warriors and horses in battle formation guarding the east face of the tomb. Over 6,000 of these life-size figures lie buried in the area. 500 have been dug up; any one of which would be considered a major acquisition by any museum in the world. Each has individually molded features, hairstyles, and clothing, with posture and expressions reminiscent of Greek archaic statuary. They are on view inside a huge pavilion built over the excavation site. Meanwhile, the digging continues. Two more groups of soldiers have been located nearby, and it is not improbable that similar battalions slumber beneath the fields north, west, and south of the mausoleum. The man-made hill that covers the tomb is about a mile from the museum. A climb to the top will help you to appreciate its mammoth size. The Qin tomb and army is 20 miles east of Xi'an but easily accessible.