Terracotta Soldiers at Pit 1 of Terracotta Army Museum
Terracotta Warriors under repair
For many foreign visitors, visiting the excavated Terracotta Army is a must. These Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors were supposed to safeguard Chinese first emperor – Qin Shihuang in his afterlife. He unified China in 221 BC for the first time in Chinese history and established Qin Dynasty Qin Dynasty (221–206 B.C.), thus starting China’s over 2000 years’ feudal society.
You are kindly reminded that Qin Shihuang’s underground palace is still there and remains intact though some of the burial sites annexing to his mausoleum have been robbed. Why his own burial site or his underground palace still intact? It is said that his tomb has solid and strict anti-gravedigging system including secret crossbows which may kill people once you are inside the tomb, and a large amount of mercury which will emit much toxic air within the tomb.
Located 1.5km east of Qin Shihuang mausoleum, the Emperor’s afterlife army terracotta soldiers are only part of his mausoleum. These vivid over 2000-year-old soldiers of Terracotta Army were discovered March 24, 1974 by a group of local farmers when they were digging a well. Now this site of Terracotto army has been turned into a world famous attraction site, bombarded by tons of tourists – up to 40,000 people a day visiting this museum. I’ve been to The Terracotta Army Museum for several times. Below are some of the Terracotta Army travel tips for your reference if you are going to make your maiden trip to the world famous Terra-Cotta Warriors and Soldiers Museum:
Tip # 1: Going there by bus is highly recommended
For money-saving trip to the Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, take a public bus is a good choice. It is very easy to find the special Bus 306 runing between Xian Raiway Station to Terracotta Army Museum. If you stand in front of Xian Railway Station, The Bus 306 parks at the parking lot on your right or east side. You don’t have to buy the bus ticket in advance. Just jump on the bus and later a bus guide will come to you and collec the money – RMB 7 per person.
Be sure to get off at the last destination – Terracotta Army Museum since the Bus 306 is scheduled to stop at several tourist attractions including Huaqing Hotspring, Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum. You don’t need to get off at these stops. The very last stop of this bus is the Terracotta Warriors. Just stay on the bus until you get to the last stop. Remember where you get off the bus terminal. After finishing your visiting the museum, come to the same parking lot and take the exact bus No 306 since there are some other “fake” bus 306 which eagerly push you to take their buses.
Tip # 2: Basic information about Terracotta Warriors and Soldiers Museum
Located 30km east of Xian, the Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors are undoubtedly the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century. The museum is composed of three pits: Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit3. Pit 1 is most impressive and the hightlight of the museum. Pits 2 and 3, though interesting, are not as impressive as the pit 1. If you don’t have sufficient time, PIT 2 and PIT 3 can be avoided.
The movie -360 degrees, the background film, is in English and very cool, which takes about 15 minutes long. It gives some background to what you see with your own eyes. It is worth the 15 minutes. The film ticket is included in your entrance fee.
Tip # 03: Don’t expect too much from the Museum
Before you visit the terracotta worriors, if you have already read a lot and seen tons of picturs of the Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors, you may feel a little disappointed. So there is much hype which causes your visit to be a letdown.
Tip # 04: Rent an audio guide? Hire a tour guide? or Using a guidebook?
How to visit the musuem? You have three choices:
1) Rent an audio guide ( recorded guide ). You just pay RMB 40 a audio tour. But I don’t suggest using an audio guide. The narrator has a heavy accent and is difficult to understand.
2) Using a tour guide service. When you are going to buy your tickets at the ticketing office, tons of tour guides will come to you, eager to offer you the guide service. If you haven’t done much homework before you came to Xian. You are advised to hire a local tour guide to guide or translate for you at the price of about RMB 100-150. You will get more knowledge than from a guidebook or the reccordings. Just avoid the shopping sites your local guide may suggest you to go.
3) Using a guidebook to guide your tour in and around the museum.
Tip # 05: Walking from Ticketing office to Entrance Gate
It takes 5-10 minutes walking from the ticketing office to the entrance gate. If you pay RMB 5, you take a small tram ride to the entrance gate. In my opinion, if you are in good shape, just avoid using the a small tram.
Tip # 06: Exit from the musuem
After you finish visiting the museum and leave for your bus terminal, or in a word, on the way back, you have to pass through an area with a lot of shops and restaurants. This obviously poses some pressure on you to buy some souvenirs or spend some money here. If you are tender-hearted, and going to buy something to support China’s economy, please bargain!
Tip # 07: Some Restaurants Rip off
There are many restaurants leading up to the museum. Some of them just rip you off. So take great care of your money!
Tip # 08: Toilets in the musuem are free
For the toilets outside the museum, you have to pay. But once you are inside the museum, you enjoy free toilets. They are the same squatting-style facility like everywhere else in china.
Tip # 09: Take a taxi to the Museum
It takes about 300-400 RMB by taxi from the downtown Xian to Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors. Very often you have to bargain with your taxi driver.
Tip # 10: Terracotta Army, not Qin Shihuang Mausoleum
If you take Bus 306 from Xian Railway Station to Terracotta Army Museum, don’t get off at Qin Shihuang’ Mausoleum. Qin Shihuang’s Mausolem is not worth visiting since it is just a mound, not excavated yet. So don’t confuse Terracotta Army with Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum.
Tip # 11: Opening time and entrance fees
Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 5:30PM
Entrance Fee: RMB 90 (March 1-November 30); RMB 65 (December 1-the end of February)
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