The Terracotta Army, Xian, China

The Terracotta Army Museum is a short drive from Xian centre, via the factory shop. There is of course another museum shop selling exactly the same terracotta figures that are available at the factory shop.

The museum is quite stunning. The scale of the terracotta army is incredible and you really have to see the hundreds of rows of individual life-sized soldiers to appreciate quite what an undertaking it was to construct this. There are four main human body styles, which were mass-produced, but the hands and faces were individually made and painted to make them unique. The paint has mostly gone now, but it is possible to imagine what this army would have looked like when originally completed. One of the farmers who found the site is still alive and signs souvenir books for tourists and gets amusingly grumpy if you take a photo of him (without paying)

For a detailed China travel article and photos please click here...

While in Xian it is also worth exploring some of the city wall and perhaps go to the theatre: Dim Sum is served at the theatre before the opera. Chinese Opera is apparently an acquired taste for western tourists. The tourist operas in Xian however are very obviously a "show" aimed at tourists and certainly not authentic.

For a detailed China travel article and photos please click here...