Be lookin' good, Warriors

Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army, thousands of soldiers and hundreds of horses, were built over two thousand years ago to guard the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Astonishingly, nobody even knew they existed until 1974, when a local farmer digging a well, drilled into the warrior vaults instead.

Individual Warriors

Seeing the thousands of warriors on display today is incredible. Every face is different, some have beards and moustaches, others are clean shaven and dozens of ethnicities are represented.

Tomb #1

Laid out in three separate tombs, the army has kneeling archers, cavalrymen with their horses, well dressed and well fed generals, and hundreds of regular infantrymen. Originally, these statues were brightly painted too, but the most of the colors faded after excavation. Nonetheless, the intricately detailed statues are extraordinary.

Terracotta Archer

While the warriors are the highlight of any trip to Xi'an, the ancient capital and Silk Road center still holds other charms. It is one of the few cities in China whose ancient city walls are still standing.

Xi'an City Walls

One of the more pleasant ways to spend a few hours is walking or even cycling the 8 and half mile perimeter. But a word to the wise for would-be cyclists - the city wall is uneven and the rental bicycles have pretty flat tires. Your bottom will get a good pummeling.

Cycling on top of the Xi'an city walls

Within the walls, Xi'an has hosted a vibrant Muslim community for centuries, and in the center of it, is one of the largest mosques in China.

Great Mosque in Xi'an

According to Lonely Planet, the buildings inside are from the Ming & Qing dynasty but the mosque itself has been around since the 8th century. It is a surprisingly calm oasis in the middle of a bustling part of the city and well worth a visit.

Great Mosque in Xi'an