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Viewing the Terracotta Warriors was the 2nd bucket list item I checked off on this trip.
I find their existence fascinating. They were made between 246 and 208 BC. Each one is unique, and there are an estimated 8,000 of them. Plus a large number of horses, chariots and other figures.
The massive building housing pit 1 is just a tiny portion of the whole burial site. It was quite moving for me to be able to stand there and look at them in person. And to amplify the experience, we actually managed to get there before anyone else. So for a few short moments we had the rare treat of getting to view them without anyone else around. And as we moved on we managed to stay ahead of the growing crowd behind us. Even our tour guide, who has been bringing people here for many years, said that she had never had that experience.
I was unaware that they had all been painted to look realistic but that when they were uncovered the paint began to fade in seconds. And in about 4 minutes the lacquer loss bond and all the colors were lost. We got to see one solder where some of the red has remained. Because of this they are not excavating any more of the areas they have identified as having relics.
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