The terracotta warriors were discovered in 1974 and have become known as the eighth wonder of the ancient world. Thousands of the warriors were buried in pits protecting the tomb of the First Emperor of China. They are life-size, with detailed modelling and each one is thought to have a different and unique face. The museum technicians working on the site in China replicated the majority of the warriors for the Terracotta Warriors Museum. They are exact in every detail and represent different types of warrior such as a general, a kneeling crossbowman, and a charioteer. Audio commentaries tell their fascinating story.
Complementing the terracotta warriors is Qin Shi Huangdi – the first emperor of China – with General Meng Tian. Both are in full costume and accompanied by other examples of recreated costume and armour representative of what would have been worn by the Royal Guard.
In addition to this the excavation scene reconstructs a small section of the excavation of one of the pits giving an idea how the figures were gradually unearthed from the ground before being painstakingly pieced together.
There are antiquities covering two millennia of Chinese history and tomb figures and Neolithic tomb pottery on show. This gem of a museum is not to be missed.
Open daily all year 10am to 5pm from April to September, and 10am to 4pm from September to March. Closed 13 to 26 December.
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