Qin Terracotta Warriors Museum refers to the museum which has the preserved remains of platoons of clay soldiers, which were buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. Qin Shi Huang Di is significant in Chinese history as he is considered to be the first unifier of China and also laid the foundation for the Great Wall. A significant archaeological excavation of the twentieth century, Qin Terracotta Warriors are located 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum in Lintong, Xian. Listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages, a visit to China is incomplete without seeing the Qin Terracotta Warriors, just as a trip to Egypt holds no significance without the pyramids.
The Qin Terracotta Warriors Museum attracts over 2,000,000 tourists, both Chinese and foreign, generating an annual ticket income of around 150 million yuan. No mention of this platoon can be found in the historical records, until March 1974, when Pit 1 was discovered by local Chinese farmers while drilling a well. It was finally on October 1, 1979 that Emperor Qin’s Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum was opened to the public.
The tour begins with a 360-degree movie about the site and how the army was discovered. The museum site is divided into three parts, namely Pit 1, 2 and 3, tagged in the order of their discoveries, which house the Terracotta Warriors and Terra-cotta Horses. Though the models are largely grey today, patches of paint suggest brightly colored clothes, when originally painted. Pit 1 is the largest, which contains 1,087 warriors, the infantry and cavalry corps standing in battle formation. The other two pits, which were discovered later, contain similar items. In addition to the pits, there is another exhibition hall containing bronze chariots and horses, and other historical relics.
Important Information About Qin Terracotta Warriors Museum
• Timings: The Qin Terracotta Warriors Museum opens at 8:00 am in the morning and remains open for visitors till 6:00 pm in the evening.
• Admission Fee: The cost of the admission ticket to Qin Terracotta Warriors is US$ 11 from March 1 to November 30 and US$ 8 from December 1 to February 28.
• Travel enthusiasts recommend that a minimum of at least three hours is required to explore the museum properly.
• Buy souvenirs after your exit so that you don’t have to carry them around.
• Audio guides in various languages are available at the entrance.
How To Reach: As far as accessing Qin Terracotta Warriors is concerned, the museum is located about thirty minutes outside Xi’An, the capital of Shaanxi province. Xi’An is served by the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.
Tourists also have the option of taking a flight to Beijing, and then accessing Xi’an, either by a one-hour flight, or an overnight train ride. Hire a private vehicle, which is easily available in Xi’an to access the museum.
For an interesting glimpse into Chinese culture and history, do incorporate Qin Terracotta Warriors Museum in your itinerary, when on a trip to China!
