After a big breakfast at the Sheraton, we meet our guide and driver. Today is “Terra Cotta Warriors Day.” Our first stop is the Provincial Museum where we get all the information about the various dynasties based in Xi’an. The last was the Tang, prior to the 1300s, when the Ming and Qing Dynasties were based in Beijing. It’s hard to keep track of them all. It does however help us understand more clearly about the Terra Cotta Warriors.
Next stop is the kiln demonstrating the process used to create the figures in similar fashion to the originals. It’s run by the government and has numerous items for sale. This is similar to the “Jade Factory” in Beijing, and the “Ginseng Factory” in Seoul. It’s a required stop for tour groups licensed by the government. We don’t have to buy anything, but there are some nice items for memorabilia. They aren’t going for my skilled bargaining technique developed in Beijing. It’s “their way or the highway.”
Finally, we head out to the Terra Cotta Warriors, the main purpose of our visit. The site is about 40km outside of Xi’an. There’s a large, and newly developed shopping area as we walk to the gates. Inside one of the shops is a farmer (that’s how he’s described to us), one of the original four, that found the “Warriors” in 1974, while digging a well on their farm. He is signing books. This is a job the government has allowed him to have (instead of continuing to farm, I guess). The various founding farmers rotate in and out, taking turns at the autograph desk.
One of the farmers who discovered the site digging a well in 1974. Now he earns his income signing his autograph.
From the gate, it’s a long way to the buildings housing the pits. It doesn’t disappoint! It’s massive! There are three huge pits (inside buildings). There is still digging going on, as well as restoration of the figures. There is only one figure, out of all those currently found, that didn’t need any restoration, and he’s displayed in his own separate case.
Standing in front of the pit #1 building.
IT’S HUGE! THIS IS PIT #1 of 3.
Excavations and restorations are still ongoing.
This is the only figure that didn’t need restoration. Some of the color is still obvious on his back.
After the visit, we get a late lunch, and then make the long drive back to the airport. Our two-hour flight arrives in Beijing at 7:30. A driver is waiting for us, and hustles us out of the terminal. When we get home around 8:15, after dropping Courtney off at her hotel, we start the turn-around packing process. We have 5 nights in Japan, and the flight leaves tomorrow morning at 9:00 am. Traveling is hard work!