Clay Soldiers and Cacoons!
Today was a busy day of touring. We started the morning off with a one hour drive to see the famous Terracotta Warriors Museum. It was discovered in 1974 by three farmers digging a well. It is 3 pits of terracotta warriors and horses all built to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. It covers a total area of over 20,000 meters and includes almost 8,000 warriors and horses and 100 chariots. It is known as the Eighth Wonder of the World and has been visited by more than 50 million people including 100 heads of different countries. Each piece is being refurbished because they were all broken by rebel soldiers who discovered them and stole the weapons that were buried there with the soldiers. There all also reproduction pieces made here in Xian and sold all over China. Each piece is hand made using molds and then baked in a kiln. I'm including a few pictures of the workers who are making larger pieces as well as a picture of the kiln. The pictures really don't do it justice. I guess it is one of those things that you have to see to appreciate.
While visiting the Terracotta Warriors today we ran into a tour group from the USA. They were here with their Chinese daughters that they adopted 9 years ago. They were so sweet and after admiring the children they wished us much happiness and were off to finish the tour.
