Pit one is what is usually depicted in most publications. It is a truly impressive view of a life-size army.
There are foot soldiers, archers, officers, generals and even the emperor. They can each be recognised by their hair and positions.
Mostly the figures had been smashed because that emperor’s successor had tried to rob the tomb and damage the army so that he could not be overrun by it.
In the mean time two further pits have been partially excavated and buildings erected over them so that they are now part of the museum. The second pit does not have an army, instead there are archers, chariots, cavalry and infantry but not in battle formation. A lot of work is still being carried out here and there is less to see, though even in pit one archaeologists are at work.
In pit three which is much smaller work is also being carried out. Here there seem to be entertainers rather than warriors.
This post is an extract of my mother’s travel journal written during a tour of China in 2013.
For daily pictures you can follow me on tumblr. at www.traveltash.tumblr.com, like the Travel-Tales page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/traveltalesorg and follow me on Twitter @tash_higman.
travel tales 