Amazing Terracotta Warriors

by Abe

We visited the Terracotta Warriors site in Xi’an during our China trip in 2011, and it was an amazing experience. We had used Trafalgar Tours, but the local tour partner that actually conducted the tour was Uniworld. The whole tour was very well conducted. The tour guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and very helpful. The cities we visited were Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai.

At the Terra Cotta Warriors site in Xi’an, we did not have to wait in long lines to get in since we took a guided tour. At the site, although it was a bit crowded outside, we got to see many exhibits quite comfortably that included the Terra Cotta warriors, horses, and Chariots. The sheer scale of the site is astonishing. To think that so much work was done 2000 years ago boggles the mind. The craftsmanship in creating each warrior with a unique face shows the level of organization that went into creation of the Terracotta Warriors. This is not the only place where one may find such examples of fine craftsmanship. In China, such immense hard work and skilled craftsmanship is seen in a large number of places. Although I believe that the Terracotta Warriors is the main attraction in the city of Xi’an, the city wall, and many other such historic places are also definitely worth visiting.

I would like to mention a few things regarding travel to Xi’an. Of course, Xi’an is a fairly large city and a one-time capital of China. So, getting convenient flights to many other major cities is not a problem. Many excellent hotels make the stay very pleasant for visitors. Our tour took us to the Sheraton, which was of course very well maintained, and had large spacious rooms. The buffet breakfast was excellent, and other restaurant options were very good too. Although the city is big, it still retains a smaller city charm as the mornings are quiet, and streets gradually come to life. With no traffic jams or any delays, our visit to Terracotta Warriors was a breeze. Our stay in Xi’an was memorable.

A trip to China is certainly an eye opening and delightful experience, and I would highly recommend putting Xi’an and the Terracotta Warriors in your itinerary if you are planning a trip to China.