If you are in Xi’an 西安there should be no excuse not to see the Terracotta Army. Visit the Terracotta Army with Sandhills Travel, one of China’s best tour guides in Xi’an!
The Terracotta Army 兵马俑 located in Xi’an, also known as the Terracotta Warriors, is a huge collection of terracotta sculptures rumoured to include over 8,000 figures and horses. They are made even more impressive because they are life-sized sculptures left in real battle formations. The sculptures were made to resemble Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s imperial guard troops around 200BC.
If they weren’t already impressive enough, wait until you find out where they were discovered. Despite being centuries old, they were only unearthed – quite literally – in the 20th century when a group of farmers came across them when digging near a well. They were actually found in the grave of the aforementioned Emperor to protect him in the afterlife, and are thus considered a type of burial art.
The discovery of the Terracotta Army is easily the most exciting and significant archaeological excavation for centuries. It is no surprise then that the sculptures have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They might even be as important as The Great Wall of China when it comes to understanding ancient Chinese history!
Where Is the Terracotta Army?
The sculptures might have been buried with the Emperor, but don’t worry, you won’t need to climb into any graves to go and witness these fascinating sculptures today. They are now visible in a museum which was erected on the site of the Emperor’s burial. This means they haven’t been drastically relocated, but everyone can experience these magnificent sculptures easily. The on-site museum also provides facts and information that will make your visit even better.
But to get the best possible experience on these sculptures, it is always better to go there with local guides who can provide a bespoke tour. Sandhills Travel provides exactly that, and only offers insightful guided Terracotta Army tours with smaller groups so you get a personal experience.
The Best Times to Visit the Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army is situated inside a modern museum, which makes them a perfect trip at any time of the year. However, if you want to visit when the temperatures are more comfortable, we recommend visiting Xi’an in the Spring or Autumn.