When you travel to Xian, a visit to the world-known Terracotta Army is a must. Located 35 kilometers east of Xian city, Terracotta Army Museum is built on the basis of Terracotta Warriors and Horses unearthed in 1974.
When talking about the Terracotta figures, a brief introduction of their owners – Emperor Qin Shihuang is necessary. Emperor Qin Shihuang (259-210B.C.) had Ying as his surname and Zheng as his given name.

He came to the throne of the Qin at age 13. By 221 B.C., he had annexed the six rival principalities of Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao and Wei, and established the first feudal empire in China’s history.
It seems that all emperors liked to build a majestic mausoleum to bury his dead body.

Emperor Qin Shihuang announced the construction of his tomb when he came to the throne at 13 which cost huge for the common people. Emperor Qin Shihuang almost moved everything he enjoyed of his life to the underground for the continual enjoyment for him in another world. Terra-cotta Army including over 8,000 terra-cotta figures was buried to protect his tomb.
The Terracotta figures pits were situated 1,500 meters east to Emperor Qin Shihuang’s tomb. Pit 1 was discovered in 1974 when the local farmers digging a well. Pit 2 and Pit 3 were unearthed later after drilling.
Pit 1 is 230 meters long from east to west, 62m wide from north to south and 5m deep, covering a total area of 14,260 square meters.

It is an earth-and-wood structure in the shape of a tunnel. The pit is divided into eleven corridors by ten earthen partition walls, and the floors are paved with bricks. In the east end are arrayed three lines of terra-cotta warriors, 70 pieces in each and 210 pieces in total, and this part is supposed to be the van of the formation.

Behind them, 38 columns of infantrymen alternating with war chariots in the corridors, each being 180m long. They are probably the main body of the formation. There is one line of warriors in the left, right and west ends respectively, facing outwards.

They are probably the flanks and the rear. There are altogether 27 trial trench, it is assumed that more than 6,000 clay warriors and horses could be unearthed from Pit 1.
Covering about 6,000 square meters, Pit 2 is supposed to be a composite formation of infantry, cavalry and chariot soldiers, from which roughly over 1,000 clay warriors, and 500 chariots and saddled horses could be unearthed. The copper parts of the chariots still remain.

Each chariot is pulled by four horses which are one and half meters high and two meters long. The horses for the cavalrymen were already saddled, but with no stirrups.
No.3 Pit covers an area of 520m with only four horses, one chariot and 68 warriors, supposed to be the command post of the battle formation.
The height of the terra-cotta warriors varies from 1.78m, the shortest, to 1.97m, the tallest. They look healthy and strong and have different facial expressions. Probably they were sculpted by craftsmen according to real soldiers of the Qin dynasty. As the terra-cotta figures have been burnt and have gone through the natural process of decay, we can’t identify their original gorgeous colors.
No amount of introduction can replace of the observation of thousands of figures on spot. Once you see it, you would be shocked by its spectacular and amazement. A visit to Terracotta Army must be the most impressive Xian itinerary of your Xian holiday.