Terracotta Army

We left Xi'an at 9am on the local bus 306 just outside the bus station as the organised trips cost over £20, the local bus was 70p and entrance to the warriors would cost £11 so quite a saving and more fun. We arrived at the ticket office about 90 minutes later and it was packed. Well we've come to expect tourist attractions to be busy in China now, does not matter what day you go or what time they are always busy. Ticket bought and a short walk, 15 minutes, and you arrive at the main gate of the Terracotta warriors. We had no map and wondered which building to start with. So we headed right which turned out to be the museum and had wonderful air conditioning. It housed the two chariots made from bronze which were small but very detailed and impressive. Next we headed to pit 2, quote a large excavation and still covered over by earth were many of the warriors. So this site was what looked like one of the newer found sites. Around the edges were a number of warriors in glass cases for all to get a closer look. In the pit you could see many broken warriors on the sandy floor, still in an early stage of excavation. They looked like skeletons lying there it was hard to think they were pottery! Next pit 3, small in comparison, but with warriors lined up in full glory and dress ready to protect the emperor. Then finally we headed to pit 1. The pissed de resistance of the whole site was pit 1. Entering this complex, which looked more like Paddington train station, we caught sight of the vast number of splendid Terracotta Warriors. There were masses of them about 4,000 altogether, all beautifully restored in every detail. Each warrior had his own personal face, from fat, pot bellied warriors to skinny men driving the horses forwards. All the warriors were lined up in trenches and in years gone past had been covered with a roof and soil. Half way down pit one you could see where sections of the pit were still being excavated, in different stages. And then an army of warriors on the top soil as if they were protecting the archeologist while they worked. On the way we got stopped a number of time to buy some small Terracotta Warriors as souvenirs which we bought for £4. Over all the experience of seeing the Terracotta Warriors was impressive, to say they where over 2,000 years old and in perfect condition was quite a pleasant surprise. Despite the heat and the many Chinese tourists it was still a good day out. We had to remember that this site was only discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well. in fact you could see in pit 1 the area where the farmer dug. So in 35 years they have uncovered a fair bit but with a bit more to do. Jody reckons they should get Time Team in to finish it for them - they’d have it done in a weekend! We arrived back in to Xi'an about 2pm plenty if time to relax before our train to Chengdu at 8pm