#bingmayong

The Terracotta Army, aka Bing Ma Yong兵马俑, an over 2,200-year-old collection, buried with China's First Emperor Qin Shi Huang, features thousands of unique life-sized soldiers and horses. Each figure has unique facial features and details. So far, about 8,000 human-shaped terracotta figures have been unearthed. With no repeated faces or identical expressions among them, this collection is truly an artistic miracle. This archaeological marvel remains one of China's most iconic ancient treasures (Qin State: 770 BCE – 221 BCE Qin Dynasty: 221 BCE – 207 BCE). Here are modern people — some ordinary individuals, some actors — who bear a striking resemblance to the Terracotta Warriors.

This terracotta warrior below is widely considered the most handsome one. Based on his facial features, people have reconstructed what he would look like in real life by 3D modeling. Yet, even the restored version still falls short of the sculpture's beauty, nor can they recreate that piercing and resolute gaze of the sculpture.

"Now I finally understand why people sob when they see the Terracotta Army in person. Seeing Bingmayong in person feels completely different from viewing photos. Standing in the silent underground vault, surrounded by thousands of solemn figures, the profound sense of history and awe-inspiring grandeur moves many visitors to tears.

Guides explain that each warrior was carved based on the faces of real soldiers. What's particularly touching is that experts believe many artisans used their own family members serving in the military as references, pouring genuine emotion into their work. This personal connection explains why the figures feel so vividly alive. On their faces, necks, and breastplates, you can still find the fingerprints of those ancient craftsmen — marks so tangible that some visitors have even managed to photograph them." (photos and cotexts by 小川迦蓝，遗产君，Staringrace，皮卡～可达～)

The restoration of the Terracotta Army is an ongoing, long-term project that has already spanned over six decades and continues to this day. The core restoration efforts can be divided into three main phases. After the figures were accidentally discovered in 1974, archaeological teams first launched emergency excavations. They faced enormous challenges: the pits contained vast quantities of shattered and collapsed warriors and horses — some broken into dozens, even hundreds, of fragments.

To date, approximately 2,000 terracotta figures have been restored and put on display. However, a tremendous number of fragments remain — in Pit No. 1 alone, over 100,000 pieces have been unearthed — all awaiting or undergoing restoration. This monumental task is far from over and will continue for many years to come. The restoration of the painted bronze chariots and horses from the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang:

It's said that when Bingmayong were first unearthed, they weren't like what we see today—they were colorful and stunningly detailed. But just 15 seconds after being uncovered, the colors began to fade, and within five minutes, they had completely disappeared.

Here are precious photographs taken by archaeologists: the Terracotta Warriors immediately after excavation, their colors not yet faded, rapidly oxidizing. Their vivid appearance is truly breathtaking.

There's this photo of a newly-unearthed terracotta head that looks way too real. With the pigments oxidized, it looks like something straight out of a forensic autopsy. That one's even more shocking. I won't post the image here, or it'd definitely get some "restricted content" label. Curious people click this Douyin link.

Here are the appearances of some famous Terracotta Warriors.

By the way, if you visit the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, make sure you go to the correct address. There are scammers operating in the area who may trick you into getting into their vehicles and take you to counterfeit attractions.

The authentic Terracotta Army is part of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum(秦始皇陵博物院), located at the intersection of Qinling North Road and Yongguan Highway in Lintong District, Xi'an(陕西省西安市临潼区秦陵北路与秦俑馆公路交叉口). This official AAAAA-rated attraction features real excavated pits and authentic terracotta figures.

Beware of scams in the area. Common fake attractions include:

"Dream Back to Qin" (formerly known as "Trace to Qin Mausoleum") – no real artifacts, only replicas. It's NEAR the real Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum so be very careful.

"World Eight Wonders Museum" – poorly made replicas with exaggerated features. Located at the foot of Lishan Mountain in Lintong, the terracotta figures here are crudely crafted — some even feature exaggerated "double eyelids and red lips" — making them drastically different from the authentic artifacts and easily distinguishable.

"Qin Tomb Underground Palace Simulation" – a small, artificially created exhibition with wax figures and models.

When visiting, prioritize taking official bus routes like Tourist Bus 5 (Route 306) and avoid unlicensed taxis or unauthorized guides. Always purchase tickets through the official channels of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum to prevent being misled to imitation sites.

Pay special attention to identifying official buses. The legitimate Tourist Bus 5 (Route 306) displays a "State-Owned 国营" label on the front windshield and only collects fares after passengers board, never charging in advance. Be cautious around the train station area where unauthorized vehicles often impersonate this route—do not trust claims like "premium direct service" or "skip-the-line access."

So Tourist Bus 5 (Route 306) (Chinese:游 5（306 路)) is the official route. Its departure point is the Textile City Public Transport Hub纺织城枢纽站. You can take Metro Line 1 or 6 to Textile City Station, then transfer to Tourist Bus 5. Alternatively, continue on Metro Line 9 to Dongsancha Station, exit at Gate C or B2, and walk a few minutes to the transfer stop (bus stop name: Renmin Road Station) for Tourist Bus 5.

If you're still unsure, you can always search for related information on Xiaohongshu, or just post a question directly. There will definitely be Xi'an locals who come across your post. Also, timing your visit is crucial. Try to avoid holidays and go during the off-peak season. Arriving before 10 AM makes for a much better experience. If you go when it's crowded, you'll just be looking at the backs of people's heads, be like people mountain people sea.

Also Xi'an served as the capital for 13 different dynasties across China's long history, making it one of the world's most ancient and significant capitals. Locals say there's something kinda mystical about the place, probably because of many ancient ancestors buried underground. That's why they have all these unwritten rules: Don't make any serious vows or oaths in Xi'an, because they might just come true way faster than you think. Basically, watch what you say there.

These are Cnetizen's real experiences. I hit the 30-pic limit so here's a direct text translation.

"My out-of-town friend visited Xi'an, and I kept warning them to watch their words. They were really careful the whole trip. When we were about to leave, dragging our luggage to the train station, my friend said, 'I love Xi'an so much I don't even want to leave!'... Then at the waiting hall, we got notified our train would be delayed for at least 10 hours – the train was still somewhere in Xinjiang or Qinghai! We had to return tickets and rebook for the next day. Literally ended up staying one more night."

"And never, ever use phrases like 'It never...' or 'This would never...' here. Whatever you say tends to come true instantly."

"I bought a lottery ticket with my colleague and joked, 'If I win, I'm not coming to work tomorrow.' Well, I really didn't show up the next day—because my kid had a fever. My coworker was so worried I'd actually won that they lost sleep over it."

"Never gossip about people here. The moment you do, you'll turn around and find them standing right behind you."

"Good predictions never come true, but the bad ones strike instantly. I've had so many moments where I said, 'It's been so long since…' and that very thing immediately happened. And multiple times, the second I complained about my boss, I'd either find them behind me or get a phone call from them."

Terracotta Warriors: Dusty for ages—let's shake it off. Qin Shi Huang: Come watch me and my warriors dance.