By Mitzy Rdz....The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army is one of the top attractions in China, because of its historical significance and uniqueness. It is significant because the hundreds of detailed lifesize models represent the army that triumphed over all other Chinese armies and who were the decisive factor in forming a united China.

The Terracotta Army Museum lies 2 km east of The Tomb of Qin Shihuang, known as the First Emperor, who unified China 2,200 years ago. Emperor Qin, from whom China .

The army of terracotta statues was made to be buried with First Emperor Qin Shihuang:

*as a show of his glory

*o remember the army that triumphed over the other Warring States to unite China, and because it was believed that objects like statues can be animated in the afterlife, and because Qin Shihuang required an after-death army.

The Terracotta Army and the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang took 38 years and 720 thousand builders to complete. The Terracotta Army was buried for 2,200 years. So far 1,868 terracotta warriors and chariots have been unearthed.

The Terracotta Army figures’ excavation is regarded as one of thegreatest discoveries of the 20th century. It had lain underground for more than 2000 years before farmers digging a well in 1974 uncovered what is now considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world.The first part of the Terracotta Army site to be discovered was named Vault One. In 1976, two other vaults were uncovered 20-25 meters away, and were named Vault Two and Vault Three.The tomb is a treasury for the Chinese people and for the whole world. In December 1987, UNESCO selected the Tomb of the First Emperor (including the Terracotta Army Vaults) as a World Cultural Heritage Site.