Xian

Many of the armed figures held real weapons, spears, daggers, axes, long and crossbows.   Generals and officers carried bronze swords which were still sharp when excavated.   The warriors were accompanied by 35 horse drawn chariots but the wooden chariots have long since disintegrated.

At the time of our visit the authorities had recently lifted the ban on photography.  A few weeks later it was re-imposed.  Things change all the time in China so there is no way of knowing what the situation will be in the  future.  Permits for photography are reported to be available for the astronomical sum of $100 U.S.

Work continues in Pit # 3 which is believed to be the command post for the army

An amazing amount has been accomplished but many decades of work remain to be done.  There may be an even bigger army still buried around Qin Shi Huang's tomb.