The Terracotta Warriors, sometimes referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well outside of Xi’an, in central China. Instead of water, they discovered a clay army protecting the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. Emperor Qin, who united the warring states into one country, had thousands of his soldiers immortalized as terracotta warriors. The soldiers, more than 2,000 years old, stand in battle formation. Chariots and horses also were found.
Terracotta Warriors Are Archeological Find of 20th Century
Their discovery has been termed the archeological find of the 20th century. This Terracotta Army is one of the main reasons people visit Xi’an, once an early capital of China and considered the eastern end of the Silk Road. The Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall rank among the top two tourist attractions in China.
Travelers who have seen the army in China will appreciate the care the Dorchester museum put into its displays.
Dorchester Museum Emphasizes Quality
The Dorchester Terracotta Warriors’ museum is not very big, but packs a lot of quality into the small space. There’s an exhibit showing how the warriors were found in bits and pieces. Further along, there’s an exhibit with full-size replicas of nine soldiers, including a cavalry soldier, a general, an officer and an unarmored soldier. A narrative explains what each did in the army as well as how to determine a soldier’s rank.
In between these two exhibits are photo displays of the excavation and restoration work ongoing in China, and a film about Emperor Qin (pronounced “Chin”), who began planning his burial arrangements when he became emperor at age 13. Another exhibit shows mannequins representing Qin and General Meng wearing period clothing and the weapons they would have used in battle.
Museum literature says the museum is the only one outside of China which is devoted exclusively to the Terracotta Warriors. The clay army was an interest of the museum’s owners, staff says. The museum is privately owned; photography is not permitted.
Terracotta Warriors Museum Is Open Daily
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through September, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the rest of the year. It is closed for two weeks at Christmas The museum is located at the intersection of High East and Salisbury streets in Dorchester, about a 20-minute walk from South Dorchester train station. The Terracotta Warriors museum is located on the ground floor of a former house. The upper floor is a museum devoted to teddy bears. Admission is £5.99 (US$9.73) for adults and £3.99 (US$6.48) for children, with a discount given to visitors who also want to tour the teddy bear museum.
Cheryl Probst - Cheryl Probst is an award-winning photojournalist who specializes in writing about motorcycles, China and the Pacific Northwest.
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