Terracotta Army Museum

Address: Museum of the Terracotta Army, Qinling South Rd, Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Website: http://www.bmy.com.cn/

Hours: Daily 8:30am-5:30pm

Admission: CNY 120-150 (adult; low/high season)

The Terracotta Army is a large funerary sculpture complex near Xi’an in Shaanxi province, created to accompany Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, in the afterlife. The site is famed for its thousands of life-sized terracotta figures arranged in military formations.

Archaeologists have exposed three principal pits and numerous associated finds; the figures include infantry, cavalry, chariots, and officers, each with individualized features. Estimates of the total figures at the site run into the thousands, with Pit 1 alone containing several thousand warriors and horses.

The complex was constructed in the late 3rd century BCE as part of the emperor’s burial ensemble and was first uncovered by local farmers in 1974, initiating large-scale archaeological excavation and conservation. The site remains an active archaeological area with ongoing study and museum displays.

The Terracotta Army lies about 35 kilometers east of Xi’an city and is part of the larger mausoleum area dedicated to Qin Shi Huang.

• Discovery and scale: The site was discovered in 1974 and contains three main archaeological pits; combined figures at the site number in the thousands and are life-sized and individually detailed.
• Dating and context: The Terracotta Army is part of the larger mausoleum complex of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor, and dates to roughly 246 to 208 BCE during the Qin dynasty.

What to See#

• Pit 1: Pit 1 is the largest excavated burial pit and contains thousands of life-sized terracotta infantry and chariots arranged in battle formation.
• Pit 2: Pit 2 contains a mix of infantry, cavalry, and chariot figures arranged in complex formations and is notable for its depth and density of figures.
• Pit 3: Pit 3 is smaller and believed to contain command-level figures and artisans’ work areas, with a different layout and fewer warriors.

The Terracotta Army is in the Lintong District east of Xi’an, about 35-40 km from Xi’an’s city center. It’s typically reached by car or tourist coach in roughly 45-60 minutes; regular tour buses, taxis and private transfers run from Xi’an’s railway stations and city hotels. There is also local public-bus and chartered coach service serving the museum complex for visitors from Xi’an.

• Arrive at opening and head straight to Pit 1 before the bulk of tour groups arrive - Pit 1 is the biggest and busiest, and early access gives better viewing and photos.
• Don't skip the smaller Pit 3 and the on-site museum galleries - Pit 3 is much quieter and the museum displays (including chariot finds and excavation context) add important context many visitors miss.
• If possible, pair your visit with a guided explanation or an audio guide at the site; the sheer scale and numbering of figures is easier to understand with a short expert orientation.