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The vibrant colors on the terracotta statues evoke in visitors to the Terracotta Army Museum in Xi'an a vision of the grand ambitions of Qin Shi Huang, an emperor who wished to transcend the earthly hell.
As the first emperor in history to unify China and rule a vast country, Qin Shi Huang made significant contributions to his powerful dynasty.
Between the unification of the country in 221 BC and his death in 210 BC, Qin Shi Huang left a profound mark on Chinese history, from the construction of the Great Wall to the unification of units of measurement, currency, and writing systems.
China's first emperor also prepared his final resting place early in his reign, by overseeing the construction of a vast mausoleum complex spanning over 90 square kilometers, like an "underground kingdom."
The arm section of a terracotta soldier statue suggests to scientists the use of bold colors to decorate the armor of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's afterlife army more than 2,200 years ago.
Over more than 40 years of excavation, experts have found over 8,000 unique terracotta soldier statues and many other valuable artifacts.
Far from being mere terracotta statues, the formidable army and warhorses in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang look astonishingly lifelike thanks to the superb color-painting artistry of ancient craftsmen, using colors such as red, blue, purple, and yellow.
As excavations progress closer to the central mound of the tomb, archaeologists hope to uncover more "unusual" details about the terracotta army.
Unfortunately, most of these distinctive colors did not survive due to the destructive power of time and exposure to air during excavation, causing them to peel and crack.
In previous excavations, archaeologists were often only able to admire the beautiful, glossy colors of the warrior statues before this fragile outer layer was destroyed by the hot, dry air of Xi'an.
A study showed that simply exposing terracotta statues to the air causes the paint, with its striking colors, to begin shrinking after 15 seconds and peel off, crumbling into pieces in just 4 minutes. The markings on these millennia-old artifacts are destroyed in a short period of time, equivalent to the time it takes to boil an egg.
How do I get there?
Xi'an is a major city served by buses, trains, and an international airport. Visitors can reach the tombs and museums by bus, minibus, taxi, or a variety of guided tours.
When is the best time to visit?
The Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang can be visited in any season. Summer, although crowded, is hot and humid, and winter is quite cold. Spring and autumn have relatively pleasant temperatures.
How to visit
Guided tours are available on-site. Renting a headset for a recorded audio tour is a less expensive and more flexible option.
