While in Xian we visited the tourist must see, the Terra Cotta Warriors. There are over 8,000 warriors each with their ow
n facial expression. The warriors were created to guard the tomb of an emperor. Currently there are three pits to visit. Archaeologists have restored many of the warriors in Pit 1, the largest and they stand as an army. This is by far the most awe inspiring site, both because of the immensity of the place, the work it must have taken just to build it in general and the fact they army has had to have been restored. Shortly after the army was buried a warring faction set fire to the tomb. Many of the warriors survived, but the wood beams above them did not. As they burned they fell sending many of the terra cotta warriors to pieces. 
Pit 2 and 3 are the next ones you visit and shows how the pits were laid out, but with less of the warriors exposed and put back together. None the less the size of the place is incredible and it is amazing that the warriors were built in the first place. Unfortunately, the workers building the statues were also killed upon completion so as to not let out the secret.
Xian is a very historic city in China. It is one of the few cities that still has the original wall standing. We rented bikes and were able to ride our bikes around the entire wall. I can't think of any place in the world I would be able to do that. The nice thing is it gave a great view of the city and we didn't have to contend with the traffic of regular Chinese roads.
n facial expression. The warriors were created to guard the tomb of an emperor. Currently there are three pits to visit. Archaeologists have restored many of the warriors in Pit 1, the largest and they stand as an army. This is by far the most awe inspiring site, both because of the immensity of the place, the work it must have taken just to build it in general and the fact they army has had to have been restored. Shortly after the army was buried a warring faction set fire to the tomb. Many of the warriors survived, but the wood beams above them did not. As they burned they fell sending many of the terra cotta warriors to pieces. 
Pit 2 and 3 are the next ones you visit and shows how the pits were laid out, but with less of the warriors exposed and put back together. None the less the size of the place is incredible and it is amazing that the warriors were built in the first place. Unfortunately, the workers building the statues were also killed upon completion so as to not let out the secret.Xian is a very historic city in China. It is one of the few cities that still has the original wall standing. We rented bikes and were able to ride our bikes around the entire wall. I can't think of any place in the world I would be able to do that. The nice thing is it gave a great view of the city and we didn't have to contend with the traffic of regular Chinese roads.
