One of the sites China is most famous for is the Terracotta Army in Xi’An. In terms of historical and national significance, it ranks up there right together with the Great Wall. Now, there are people who have gone there and say that after all it’s quite a disappointing experience, since you can only see those warriors from afar, but I think visiting the terracotta army is still very impressive.

There are several underground vaults, the first one holding 6000 terracotta figures of warriors and horses alone. Displayed, you will find soldiers of different ranks and purpose, anything from archers and horsemen to generals and other senior officers. Some are kneeling, while others are standing. Having been buried for more than 2000 years, it’s a fascinating spectacle: Each warrior was crafted with an individual face and appearance, the sculptors even paying attention to such details as the lines in the hands or the shoe prints, let alone all the intricate makings of each individual’s clothes. Rumor has it that if a manufacturer didn’t complete his task with minute accuracy, he forfeited his life!

Some of the vaults have not yet been excavated, and it is believed that there are even more undiscovered warriors within the vicinity of the Tomb of Qin Shihuang (emperor who ordered the crafting of this army). The main reason that excavation was put on hold was the fact that after unearthing the originally colorful soldiers, within minutes the terracotta figures lost all their color, turning into an undefined gray-ish shade. So, until technology is advanced enough to preserve the colors of this amazing display, there will be no attempts at further excavation.