Museum in the Xi'an proper offer but a glimpse of Xi'an's grea and most important attraction: the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the underground army of terracotta warriors. This vast treasure lies 35 kilometres (20 miles) east of Xi'an, at the foot of Lishan Mountain. In 1974, peasants digging a well uncovered these life-size figures of horses and warriors. According to historic surveys, a splendid necropolis apparently depicting the whole of China in miniature is center under the 47-metre-high (154 ft) mound. The necropolis itself is said to be immense in size.
According to old records, the ceiling is said to be studded with jewels depicting the sky, and mercury was pumped in mechanically to create images of flowing river. Trial digs have revealed high contents of mercury in the soil. However, the official entrance to the tomb has yet to be found. Several hundred thousand workers spent 36 years building the tomb, which the Emperor, at the age of 13, ordered to be built shortly after he ascended the throne. It is said that workers and supervisors involved in its design and construction were buried alive within the tomb. Some speculations say that the Emperor was so superstitious and fearful that he had the necropolis built as a decoy and was, in fact, buried somewhere else.
There are three pits at the museum, they were Pit1, 2 and 3 respectively in order of discovery, with a total area of 22,780 square metres and 1,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors, horses and chariots.
Pit No.1 is in an oblong shape, 230 metres long from east to west, 62 metres wide from north to south and 5 metres deep, covering an area of 114,260 square metres. It is an earth-and-wood structure in the shape of tunnel. The terra-cotta warriors and horses in Pit No.1 are arrayed in a practical battle formation. In the long corridor to the east end of the pit stand facing east three rows of terra-cotta warriors in battle tunics and puttees, 70 in each, totaling 210 altogether. Armed with bows and arrows, they constitute the vanguard. There is one row of warriors in the south, north and west of the corridor respectively, facing outward. They are probably the flanks and the rear guard. Holding crossbows and arrows and other long-distance shooting weapons, they took up the job of defending the whole battle formation. The ten rammed partition walls divided Pit No.1 into eleven latiriors with horse-drawn chariots in the center. The warriors, armor-clad, holding long-shaft weapons are probably the main body of the formation and represent the principal force. There are altogether 27 trial trenches. According to estimation, there will be 6,000 warriors and horses in Pit No.1, most of which are infantrymen.
Located 20 metres to the north of the eastern end of Pit No.1, Pit No.2 is L-shaped and consists of four different mixed military forces, namely, infantry, cavalry, archers and charioteers. It is estimated that there will be over 1,000 pieces of pottery figures, 500 horse-drawn chariots and saddled horses. The pit is measured 6,000 square metres.
Pit No.3 is located 25 metres to the north of Pit No.1 and to the west of Pit No.2. The plane of the pit is of concave shape totaling about 520 square metres. Out of the pit were unearthed one chariot, four terra-cotta horses and 68 clay armored warriors. To its east there is a sloping entrance, 11.2 metres long, 3.7 metres wide, opposite which is a chariot and horse house. On both sides of the house, there is a winging room, in which were unearthed 64 pottery figurines. The arrangement of the pottery figurines is quite different from those in Pits No.1 and No.2 in which the warriors are placed in the battle formation. But those in Pit No.3 are arrayed opposite to each other along the walls, in two rows. Even the weapons held by the warriors in Pit No.3 were only discovered one kind of weapon called "shu", which had no blades and are believed to be used by the guards of honor. Unearthed also in this pit was a remaining sacrificial of offerings and war prayers were practiced. Judging by the layout of the pit, it is likely the headquarters directing the mighty underground army.
The earliest appearance of pottery figurines in China happened in the Warring States Periods, but they were small in size and made roughly with low temperature. The Qin terra-cotta warriors and horses were not only big in size, but made exquisitely with high technology and vivid images.
The height of the terra-cotta warriors varies from 1.78 metres being the shor to 1.97 metres being the tallest. Their weights are also different. The ligh being 110 kilograms and the heaviest 300 kilograms. In order to keep the balance of the warriors, the workmen in the Qin dynasty added a pedal to each warrior under his foot, so that the warrior would stand more firmly. The foot pedals were made in molds. The feet, shoes, legs and armours of the warriors were made by hand. Some legs are hollow, some are solid. The solid ones are made separately, but the hollow ones are made through a method called "coiled rope of clay". The bodies of the warriors are all made separately and join the models together to complete the work. Arms also have two kinds, hollow and solid forms. The hollow arms are made with the above-mentioned method, the solid ones are made separately.
In December 1980, two sets of large painted bronze chariots and horses were unearthed 20 metres west of the tomb of the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. They were listed as No.1 and No.2 respectively according to their discovery. They were then enclosed in a wooden coffin and buried in a pit seven metres deep. When excavated, the chariots and horses were seriously damaged due to the decayed wooden coffin and the collapse of earthen layers. No.2 bronze chariot and horses were found broken into 1555 pieces when excavated. After two-and-half years of careful and painstaking restoration by archaeologists and other experts they were formally open to the public on October 1, 1983. No.1 bronze chariot and horses were also open to the public in 1988
