In 1974 farmers digging a well near Lintong, Xi'an, struck pottery fragments — and uncovered the funerary army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang: the world-famous Terracotta Army.
Pit 1: the main battle formation — about 6,000 warriors arranged for real combat. Standing at its edge, the "underground legion" is overwhelming.
Pit 2: the command center — home of the famous kneeling archer and general figures, with the most troop types. Pit 3: the army's headquarters — smallest, but the most mysterious.
The details: every figure has a unique face, hairstyle and armor — "a thousand faces, a thousand men". Averaging 1.8 m tall, they were painted when unearthed; the pigments faded on contact with air.
Practical: metro Line 9 from Xi'an to Huaqing Pool, then a bus or the tourist shuttle. Peak-season tickets ¥120, real-name booking required. Allow 3-4 hours — don't miss the bronze chariot gallery.
