Xi'an is famous all over the world for the terracotta warriors and horses. In 1974, when some farmers were digging a well, they found some brown pottery fragments(陶器碎片), then we discovered the greatterracotta warriors and horses. Some historical books wrote that Emperor Qin Shihuang built a big tomb for himself. He also buried a lot of terracotta warriors and horses. However, for technical reasons, the major part of the tomb couldn't open today. It is still standing 76 meters high against the Mt. I.ishan and facing the Huishui River. After 20 years of careful excavation<挖掘)three underground vaults opened to the public in 1979, 1989, and 1994, displaying thousands of terracotta warriors, horses and chariots, all arrang ed in battle formations. Vault l, built with earth and wood, is about 210 meters long, 60 meters wide and 4.6 to 6.5 meters high. In this area of 12,600 square meters, six thousand life-sized warriors and horses of terracotta were found in different lines. The troops were of a fairly uniform height of l.8 meters. They helmets and armor and carry real bows and arrows.
|