The Terracotta Army, Xian

The incredible burial place of the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, is one of the greatest discoveries of our time. These 8000 life-sized warriors, carved from terracotta clay, were discovered beside the emperor's grave. This army was designed to defend the emperor after death. There isn't a more beautiful burial location in the world. Thousands of tourists flock to Xian to experience the ancient emperor's larger-than-life 'afterlife.'

According to legend, approximately 700,000 employees toiled day and night to build this clay army. However, some evidence suggests that molds and technologies more like current assembly lines were used. Having said that, each soldier has a distinct set of facial characteristics, a distinct body type, and a range of height and weight. Each is armed with a bronze weapon, and some are accompanied by horses. The details might have been added after the basic mold had been manufactured.

The sculptures have survived thousands of years under the sand because of the chromium plating. The majority of the figures were in good condition when discovered in 1987, but additional rounds of restorations have been performed to maintain the splendor of this man-made miracle.