Pit 1
This vault measures 210 meters long and 62 meters wide and the bottom of the pit varies from 4.5 meters to 6.5 meters below ground level. Ten earthen walls were built at intervals of 2.5 meters, forming 9 circling corridors. Ref: China Highlights. 1998. The Terracotta Army. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/. [Accessed 05 October 14].
About 6000 terracotta figures made up of soldiers and horses face east in a rectangular array, each one either armed with a long spear, dragger or halberd. The vanguard appears to be three rows of infantry who stand at the easternmost end of the army. Ref: China Highlights. 1998. The Terracotta Army. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/. [Accessed 05 October 14].
Close behind is the main force of armoured soldiers holding weapons accompanied by 38 horse-driven chariots. Ref: China Highlights. 1998. The Terracotta Army. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/. [Accessed 05 October 14].
On the southern, northern, and western sides stand one row of figures serving as the army’s defence wing. Ref: China Highlights. 1998. The Terracotta Army. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/xian/terracotta-army/. [Accessed 05 October 14].
This is one of the few places on Earth that captivated me as a child. I dreamed of one day seeing these and wrote a massive essay on them when I was in Primary School. I still haven’t managed to get there (one day) so I loved reading about your experience with them. I love the fact that they included everything an army would need – those horses are amazing. Just the skill alone… Love!
When the Terracotta exhibition came down to Singapore, I was dying to go and kept pushing it to another date thinking I will eventually go. The exhibition came and went and I had not seen them. I was disappointed in myself for not making time. But this experience has redeemed everything!
Amazing!
Aren’t the Terracotta Warriors amazing?!! I loved my visit to Xi’an and just like you was mesmerised by the terracotta statues.
I can’t believe your visit was put on hold by Robert Mugabe, though – that’s amazing!
I know right! I was like how long does a President take to view all 3 pits?? Then I realised they had cordoned off the area way before he even arrived! Sigh….
Great photos! It really is an impressive sight, isn’t it? Our visit coincided with that of the supposed farmer who unearthed them, who was there signing autographs and selling books. Thankfully we didn’t have to wait in the sun for four hours for him!
Did you make it to the Shaanxi History Museum while you were there? It has an outstanding collection of the warriors on display and you can get unbelievably close to them!
Yes I sure did! The Shaanxi History Museum was awesome but it was also very very crowded. 🙂 I suddenly realised that we may have been travelling around Xi’an during local Chinese school holidays!
Interesting…
I was surprised by the sheer number of soldiers! Great sight to see!
http://www.backpackingbear.com/blog/joe-louis-is-a-terracotta-warrior/
This is an amazing cultural treasure….I haven’t been there but I would love to go. Sites like this give us such a unique look into the cultures that came before us. Fascinating!