Today off to see warriors. Surprised to know Xi’an is 13 million so not surprising to find it’s an hours drive out (with a lot of other buses)
Due to early rise, it was noticeable the mix of vehicle changed and there are lot of bicycles and (electric) motorbikes, and “TukTuk’s” around with everyone commuting
We’d got a package tour of Terracotta Army which I think worked well( I sensed it was the norm but you could book local guides or just turn up)
The Terracotta Army was predictably amazing to see in the flesh, though the sights are all too familiar from TV etc
Do just a few pictures and one fact! All the archers had their hair buns on the left, so they didn’t catch as they took the arrows from their back!
There are three warrior pits. Most excavation has stopped as they don’t know how to fully preserve them. (Colour-wise)
There’s only one intact warrior (the kneeling one)
The warriors are 1.5km from the mausoleum so almost certainly there are multiple other pits etc to be unearthed between
The main site is contaminated with mercury, blocking further excavation
We then went to a VR experience of the mausoleum itself. A bit Indiana Jones in parts but the “factual” bits were impressive. V immersive
Finally to the Tang Dynasty winter palace (Huaqing Palace) behind the warriors, with hot springs. Also the site where Cheng Kaishek was captured before WW2 because he refused to join Mao against the Japanese
