The construction of the tomb was described by the historian Sima Qian (145–90 BCE) in the Records of the Grand Historian, the first of China's 24 dynastic histories, which was written a century after the mausoleum's completion… See more

The Terracotta Army is part of a much larger necropolis. Ground-penetrating radar and core sampling have measured the area to be approximately 98 square kilometers (38 square miles).
The necrop… See more

Four main pits approximately 7 m (23 ft) deep have been since been uncovered in the site excavations. These are located approximately 1.5 km (0.93 mi) east of the burial mound. The soldiers within were laid out as if to … See more

The terracotta figures are life-sized, typically ranging from 175 cm (5.74 ft) to about 200 cm (6.6 ft) (the officers are typically taller). They vary in height, uniform, and hairstyle in accordance with their portra… See more