Terracotta Warriors

 The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. They were buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC to protect him in his afterlife.

The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates are that the Terracotta Army holds more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses.

The Terracotta Warriors are lifelike and at least life-size.  Each face is different.  Scholars believe that they were modeled after specific soldiers in Qin Shi Huang's army.  Soldiers of different ranks have different hair styles and headpieces consistent with those worn in the emperor's time.

The Terracotta Warriors are in three pits, with Pit 1 being the biggest.  It is about the size of two soccer fields and is covered by a roof like a quonset hut.

I was there first thing on a workday and was told that the crowds were unusually small.  Still, people stood close together in about six tightly packed rows.  Chinese people are adept at throwing elbows to gain position.  We were counseled not to be shy about pushing our way through the crowds to see better.

In Pit 1, the Terracotta Warriors are in close formations separated by walls.  In Pit 3, a half dozen soldiers that were especially well preserved had been pulled out and put on display in glass cages.