Xi'an -- Terracotta Warriors and Horses

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Speaking of Xi'an, one can't forget to mention "Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses". It is what makes Xi'an known to the world. I visited there many items when I was a kid, and again last year. I did a doodle last time I visited, but I figure it makes sense to re-introduce it and repost my simple write-up again.

"Terracotta Warriors and Horses", or as some people call it "Terracotta Army", is a very famous tourism spot in Xi'an, China. They are real-life-size clay figures buried with Qin Emperor, the first empire of the ancient China. It's a masterpiece from more than 2000 years ago and one of the Eight Wonders of the World.

Each single one of them was very delicately designed, baked and assembled. Well, at that time, if any of them were not the best they can be, the makers can be killed by the Emperor. When they were dug up from underground in the 1970s, some soldiers and horses had colors. Unfortunately, the colors faded quickly as they were exposed to the air. There were still undiscovered ones for the purpose of preservation.

What's really interesting is that the soldiers and horses were positioned underground in a way that they were preparing the Emperor and ready to fight: soldiers are in groups and generals are having meetings. It's amazing design, just imagine it, in a world that's 2000 years ago.

What was sad was that at the end of the Qin Dynasty and after, some people burned parts of soldiers and many broken down. We can still see the burned area now.

The cost to recover every single soldier is enormous, about several hundred thousand Yuan. Thanks to the investment from the government, it has become one of the most popular visiting spots in China. Each year, the museum of these Terracotta warriors and Horses welcomes 7 or 8 million visitors. This makes a great amount of money for the museum and helps it remain a great wonder.

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