Terracotta Warriors
The greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century — 8,000 life-size soldiers guarding China's first emperor
- Time needed
- 3-4 hours
- Rating
- AAA · UNESCO World Heritage
Overview
The Terracotta Army is one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in human history. Buried in 210 BC to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang — the first emperor to unify China — the army consists of more than 8,000 life-size clay warriors, 130 chariots, and 670 horses, each with individually sculpted facial features. They were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well, and excavation continues today.
Plan your visit
Best time to visit
Weekdays, arriving when the site opens at 8:30am. Avoid Chinese national holidays when crowds are overwhelming.
Getting there
From central Xi'an: Metro Line 9 to Huaqingchi station, then bus 914 or 915 to the site (total 60-75 minutes). Alternatively taxi from Xi'an city centre costs approximately ¥80-100 one way (45 minutes). Many hotels offer organised day trip transport.
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