The Warriors were worth the wait!!!!

When we first arrived near the Warriors this morning we went to the Terra Cotta Museum. This place makes replicas by using clay from the local mountains and molds to replicate the warriors, general and the emperor. We had a tour and were able to see how they make the small figures as well as the life size warriors. It was quite facinating and I was so happy to see them and purchase a number of warriors to bring home with us. MacLean really wanted a horse so that is what she got. I bought a replica of the emperor, and a number of other small soldiers. We then got to see the kilns where they still bake the warriors and then had pictures taken with our heads in the life size warriors. We had lots of fun seeing them but my excitement came as we left the museum and move towards seeing the real thing.

Here are the pictures of the museum...



Our last day in X'ian was for me the most amazing. I have dreamed about seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors and boy I wasn't disappointed. We both were in awe. MacLean kept saying they found them under the ground???? On March 29, 1974 a local group of farmers were digging a well and they discovered some pottery. The also found some ancient weapons made of bronze. The news went to the local government and they began a dig on July 17, 1974. Then on Oct. 1, 1979 Emperor QinSHihuang's Terra Cotta warriors\\were opened to the public. This emperor was the first in China and he comanded many workers and artists to build a tomb and make the warriors. The artists used each others faces to provide the detail you now see in the warriors. There are three main buildings named Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 and they were constructed on the original site of the pits at different times. In Pit one there are the most warriors and horses. Many are still being pieced together and the site is still being excavated after all these years. You will note in the pictures that the site where the well was being dug is marked and still in tact. There is an area of over 2,000 square meters in Pit 1 and over 1,087 terra cotta warriors and horses displayed there after restoration. The village formerly unknown to the outside world is now very famous. This emperor is the same one who had the Great Wall commissioned and built. There continues to be many new pits found and new figures are being discovered. Many of them haven't been restored yet but hope to be in the near future.

It is hard to put into words how amazing this sight is. The splendor of seeing all these figures, some in tact others in a mess on the floor. It is a painstaking job but they continue to make this one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen. Today while we were at the Terra Cotta Warriors we met the man (farmer) who found the first Terra Cotta Warrior. He is over 70 years old and used to be illiterate and after he found these warriors he had a home built for him and someone taught him to sign his name. I purchased a book with his autograph in it and we waved to him. That was very cool. Alison, I also got you another book (before I knew he was there ) all about the history of the Terra Cotta warriors. I know you will love it.

Please enjoy these pictures we have on the Terra Cotta Warriors.