Xi'an Sights

Sights

TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

This is the main reason most people come to Xian and one of the must do things when people come to China. And for good reason. Not much can prepare you for the experience when you get there. Quite simply it is incredible and awe inspiring. Despite the rather bleak carpark and concrete enclosures when you come in to the 'complex',  once inside the actual site all of that is forgotten.

The history behind this is fascinating. The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, was so paranoid of his enemies in the after-life (he did make quite a few along the way whilst uniting China), that he made himself an entire army of life size warriors to protect himself. Gruesome tales of Qin having the craftsmen who made the warriors, along with his concubines, buried alive so they could keep the secret make the scene all the more atmospheric.

And to use the cliche, this is the tip of the iceberg. Rivers of mercury runnning through an underground city is one of the more famous rumours. Excavation is still occuring more than 30 years after the warriors were first discovered in March 1974 by local farmers drilling a water well to the east of Mount Lishan.

Getting there (see transport section) is not a problem. One can join a tour, take a taxi or ride a public bus. An entrance fee is applicable (about 100Y) with guides costing extra.

The inevitable variety of merchandise on sale is not as ubiquitous as it might have been within the actual mausoleum. 

Due to the deteriorating condition of the warriors though the authorities wish to close the site for a period of recovery time (date unknown). Get there as soon as you can!