I will always remember the moment after walking up the ramp, I first saw this silent army looking at me.
The whole complex is housed in a very dowdy aircraft hanger style building with a reception area showing a cheesy film about the history of the Terracotta Army. However you soon forget the surroundings once you are close up to the figures.
There are several pits that have been excavated and some more awaiting to be fully examined. Most of these photos are taken from Pit No.1 - the largest, if I remember rightly.
Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of unified China, built his tomb nearby and had this terracotta army created to guard it, 2,200 years ago. Soon after his death the structure covering the army was destroyed and burnt down.
I find it amazing that such a large construction was then forgotten until a farmer digging for a well, fell into it in 1971.
The farmer wasn't paid anything by the state for finding it, but by way of recompense, they pay him to sign guide books in the main shop. When we were there - getting my guide book signed, he looked very frail, so hurry up if you want a signed copy before his chain-smoking gets the better of him.
A nearby hill is the burial site of the emperor. However the Chinese authorities are taking their time before excavating it. When they do, it is likely to be even more spectacular than the Terracotta Army! I may well return for another visit to China then.
There were signs all over the place forbidding you to take photos. However it seemed that so long as you didn't take photos right in front of a guard you were OK.
Originally these horses were attached to wooden chariots, which of course burnt down soon after the site was completed.
Xian was the old capital of China and is an impressive walled city.
This was built in the 7th Century. No lift, but the climb to the top is worth it.
On our final night in China, we had a spectacular Dumpling Banquet. Each of the dumplings was moulded into a different creature or flower, such as swans or ducks. Very memorable.
Being the opera house, we were entertained lavishly in a recreation of a Tang Dynasty music and dance spectacular. An amazing end to a fantastic holiday.
The flight back to London stopped over in Hong Kong, allowing us a few hours to explore the city. Even though it had by now been part of the People's Republic of China for 4 years, if you looked anyway Chinese you had a long queue trying to get through customs. Europeans on the other hand just walked straight through.
