Text and photos (c) Robert Barry Francos / FFotos By Francos, 2014
Photos can be enlarge by clicking on them
The Terra Cotta Warriors is arguable the most famous part of Xi'an, China.
The background: A farmer digging a well in the countryside comes across a clay soldier, and notifies the authorities. His farm turns into one of the largest excavation sites in the world that is still currently in process. Thousands of these soldiers of various ranks and positions, such as archers and wagon masters, were found from the early Tang dynasty (around 320 BCE), including horses and wooden carts, arrows, spears, and nearly anything else that would create an army. Each of these soldiers are based on a real person and are individual.
The way they are build is the bottom half is solid, weighing around 300 pounds, to keep the soldier steady. The top part is hollow. The field was covered by a massive Quonset hut as they dug around the soldiers, buried in formation to protect the first Emperor.
That farmer now works for the government, and sits in the souvenir area, signing books. He does not look happy, but rather quite bored and snappish. I tried to take his picture and he became terse.
The area surrounding the museum is one giant market of tourist traps, selling everything from real wolf fur to strange monster figures, to model soldiers. We were even approached by some teens trying to sell us samples of a detergent. They were impressed with us for some reason, and took our pictures (and we returned the favor), giving us a sample, which ended up being an excellent cleaner!
Victor came with us, but hired a guide to show us around.
Photos can be enlarge by clicking on them
The Terra Cotta Warriors is arguable the most famous part of Xi'an, China.
The background: A farmer digging a well in the countryside comes across a clay soldier, and notifies the authorities. His farm turns into one of the largest excavation sites in the world that is still currently in process. Thousands of these soldiers of various ranks and positions, such as archers and wagon masters, were found from the early Tang dynasty (around 320 BCE), including horses and wooden carts, arrows, spears, and nearly anything else that would create an army. Each of these soldiers are based on a real person and are individual.
The way they are build is the bottom half is solid, weighing around 300 pounds, to keep the soldier steady. The top part is hollow. The field was covered by a massive Quonset hut as they dug around the soldiers, buried in formation to protect the first Emperor.
That farmer now works for the government, and sits in the souvenir area, signing books. He does not look happy, but rather quite bored and snappish. I tried to take his picture and he became terse.
The area surrounding the museum is one giant market of tourist traps, selling everything from real wolf fur to strange monster figures, to model soldiers. We were even approached by some teens trying to sell us samples of a detergent. They were impressed with us for some reason, and took our pictures (and we returned the favor), giving us a sample, which ended up being an excellent cleaner!
Victor came with us, but hired a guide to show us around.
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| The Emperor watches over the tourists arriving. |
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| Teen make some summer money with samples of detergent. |
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| Everyone who attends this museum has this same shot, so why should I be different? |
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| Charioteer "holding" the reins. |
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| No, it was not colder than a well digger's... |
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| There is still a lot yet to be uncovered. |
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| Recently worked upon warriors. |
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| A general, the highest rank. |
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| When we came out of the museum, it had been raining. |
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| In the center is a wolf fur for sale, along with other pelts. |
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| A candid of our guide. |
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| A vendor selling a toy that flies from the wrist. |
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| Vendors carrying fruit to restock their cart. |
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