Day 4: The Terra Cotta Museum

Outside the Terra Cotta Museum

As the legend goes, while digging a well, peasants discovered an underground vault which turned out to contain the Terra Cotta Army. Today, 3 covered pits are still being excavated, which may contain up to 3000+ soldiers. Each soldier has individual features and, when first excavated, brightly painted. Exposure to air rapidly fades the paint, so most of the soldiers are a yellow earth color. The army contains soldiers of a variety of ranks and positions, but is not limited to just soldiers. Horses and chariots have also been found, as well as weapons of the day (longbows, swords, etc.).

The first pit is the largest of the three, and I believe, the oldest. Most of the soldiers that have been uncovered have been found here.

The 1st vault

Solidiers

Soldier and Horses

The second pit we visited was much smaller, and few soldiers and horses have been found here.

Smaller pit and horses

The third pit is almost as large as the first, but, of the remains that were evident, most seemed to be in pieces.

The third pit

Remains

The most amazing part of the Terra Cotta Army is that it is thought to only be a small part of a much larger underground complex.