Terracotta Warriors (Terracotta Army)

Jacques Shirac, president of France, once said: "One can't claim to have visited China unless one has seen these Terra-cotta Warriors." Shirac predicted that the life-size warriors would become a major tourist attraction for visitors from around the world. Indeed, since its excavation in 1974, millions of foreign visitors have toured the Terra-cotta Warriors Museum in Xi’an and marveled at the underground wonders.  

Terracotta Warriors (Terracotta Army) Related Reports

• China to begin third excavation of terracotta army site

• Chinese city to build underground station for terracotta warriors museum

• From China, 'Warriors' Will Charge - National Geographic Show Means Growth, Admission

• Eco protestor puts masks on China's terracotta warriors

• China earthquake: Seven terracotta warriors damaged. Telegraph, UK

• Terracotta Warriors Visit British Museum
  August 22, 2007 - The first batch of terracotta figures, including the famed warriors, arrived at the British Museum in London on Tuesday, as part of the exhibition "The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army" which opens on September 13. (Click the title of this news for full report on China.Org.cn.)

• China's Terra-cotta Warriors to Be Shown in London

Xinhua News, Feb. 8, 2007 - Over 120 loan objects from China's Museum of Terra-cotta Army will be shown this autumn in a major British Museum exhibition which features China's first emperor. Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, made the announcement on Wednesday at a press launch of the museum's major exhibition in 2007. This loan exhibition "First Emperor: China's Terra-cotta Army", scheduled to run seven months from Sept. 13 this year to April 6 of next year, will feature the largest group of material from the tomb of the First Emperor to be loaned abroad, he said. (Click for full report)

• Pollen reveals origins of Terracotta Warriors
  By People's Daily Online, Feb. 8, 2007 - Chinese researchers recently announced they had solved a mystery after in-depth analysis of pollen found on Qin Terracotta Warriors and horse figurines found in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor. It appears the Qin Terracotta Warriors and the horse figurines were actually produced in different locations.

The mausoleum of the first Qin emperor was a mystery from the moment it was unearthed. Now, Chinese scientists claim that they have solved at least one of its mysteries. Dr. Hu Yaqin, a scientist from the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said, "Some plants were in flower when the emperor ruled China, around 2000 years ago. Some pollen from these flowers fell on the body of the figurines. Of course, it is difficult to distinguish this with the naked eye." A research paper on the subject will soon be published in the "Archaeological Journal".

According to the "Beijing Evening News", researchers have come to the conclusion that different pollen found on the figurines indicates that the Qin terracotta horses were made from materials collected near the mausoleum itself, whereas the warriors were most likely produced somewhere far from the Mausoleum. The precise location is unknown. The terracotta horses are two meters long and weigh 200 kilograms. The Terracotta Warriors weigh about 150 kilograms each. The legs of the horses were the most difficult to make and the most fragile, so researchers presume the horses were produced close to the mausoleum to shorten the transportation distance.

• Terracotta Warriors face growing mould threat
  Xinhua, Oct. 18, 2006 -  Forty-eight types of mould are eating away at China's 2,000-year-old Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, reports Wednesday's Beijing Morning Post. Scientists from Belgium insist that if the moulds are not killed quickly the ancient relics will be doomed. The museum jointly set up a microbe lab with Janssen Pharmaceutical Belgium in 2001 to curb the growth of the mould, which has damaged the surface of the statues, resulting in color changes. The mould is also said to be nibbling away at the inner material that could lead to irreparable damage. Temperature changes caused by millions of visitors a year is thought to be the major reason behind the growing mould problem. The museum extended its cooperation with the two pharmaceutical companies by signing an agreement on Tuesday to set up a cultural relic protection and research center. The terracotta army was found in the tomb of China's first emperor, Qinshihuang, outside the city of Xi'an in the 1970s by farmers digging a well.
• German Man Fools Police with Terracotta Warrior Disguise
  Xinhua News, Sep. 18, 2006 - A 26-year-old German art student out-foxed police on Saturday by disguising himself as a terracotta warrior and "taking up position" among the world-famous terracotta army in Xi'an. Pablo Wendel was seen jumping into the five-meter deep pit at 2p.m. on Saturday to stand among 2,000 terracotta warriors and horses in the terracotta army museum, local police told Xinhua on Sunday.
• 80 Million Visits Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses
  CRI.com October 9, 2004 - More than 80 million people have visited Qin terra cotta warriors and horses in past three decades. The Qin terra cotta warriors and horses were buried in the grave of China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang, who died more than 2,000 years ago. They were uncovered by peasants who were digging a well in 1973 in Lintong County of Shanxi Province, and are recognized as world cultural heritage along with Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum in 1987. The Museum of Qin terra cotta warriors and horses have been chosen as one of China's ten national scenic spots.

• Report: German Man Fools Police with Terracotta Warrior Disguise

Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2006 - A 26-year-old German art student out-foxed police on Saturday by disguising himself as a terracotta warrior and "taking up position" among the world-famous terracotta army in Xi'an.

Pablo Wendel was seen jumping into the five-meter deep pit at 2p.m. on Saturday to stand among 2,000 terracotta warriors and horses in the terracotta army museum, local police told Xinhua on Sunday.

A sudden movement by Wendel startled the six police officers on duty, who rushed over and followed Wendel into the pit.

 But Wendel was well prepared. He had carried out a reconnaissance mission a few days earlier and had selected a spot among the warriors that would give him the most cover.

Better still, he had designed himself a gown and hat, identical to those once worn by Emperor Qinshihuang's warriors, in Hangzhou in east China where he currently studies performance art, and even brought a rectangular plinth to stand on. After leaping into the pit, he quickly donned his costume and waited.

Police said it took them two minutes to find the "living terracotta warrior", clad in military garb and staring straight ahead with unblinking eyes.

The police officers tried to force him to leave but Wendel refused to budge, persisted with his prostrate pose. Finally, the police officers had no choice but to carry him out, the police said.

Wendel, whose Chinese name is Ma Lin, said that he has been crazy about the terracotta warriors since childhood. "I have always dreamed of disguising myself as a terracotta warrior among the real ones," he explained.

 Police did not charge Wendel because his actions did not cause any damage to the cultural relics and he was clearly passionate about the warriors. They felt that "serious criticism and education" was sufficient. Wendel’s outfit was confiscated and local police sent him back to Hangzhou on Saturday evening.