In 1974, Terracotta Army was discovered by a farmer named Yang Peiyan while he was digging for a well in the fields at Xian. At a depth of 4 meters the farmers found pottery fragments, followed by the pottery torso of a man.

Archaeologists began to excavate and they discovered that the site consisted of 3 pits, filled with terracotta statues and horses, and was infect the mausoleum of the Emperor Qin Shihuang. More than 8000 warriors and horses were discovered, along with over 100 wooden chariots. It appears that Emperor Qin ordered his mausoleum to be constructed prior to his death, taking over 20 years to complete.

When the warriors were originally made, each was modeled on a soldier, giving each one its own individual size, style and facial expressions. They were also painted with plant extracts, but on excavations, these colors faded within a few days, reverting the warriors to their original colors.

When the archaeologists discovered the pits containing the warriors, they found the bodies were in many pieces, the pits having been attacked and searched by opposing forces, the weapons plundered and the warriors smashed. Only one warrior, a kneeling archer, remained intact. The task of restoration was immense and a project that will continue for many years to come, as many of the lines of warriors are still totally covered awaiting excavation.

The excavation site is now covered by exhibition halls, preventing pollution from attacking and further damaging these ancient wonders. This also allows millions of visitors the chance to view this magnificent piece of Chinese History!