The Terra cotta created about 2,200 years ago,are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses is a collection of 8,099 life-size terra cotta figures of warriors and horses located around 1.5 kilometers east of Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. The terracotta figures were buried with the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210-209 BC. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Army."

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses was discovered inMarch 1974 by local farmers drilling a well to the east of Mount Li. Mount Li is the name of the man-made necropolis and tomb of the First Emperor of Qin; Qin Shi Huang. Construction of this mausoleum began in 246 B.C. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in his after life.

The site is now the famous Terra-Cotta Museum, which consists of three main buildings, Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3. The three pits occupy an area of 22,000 square meters. No. 1 Pit is the largest, first opened to the public on China's National Day (Oct. 1), 1979. There are columns of soldiers at the front, followed by war chariots at the back. No. 2 Pit, found in 1976, is 20 meters northeast of No. 1 Pit. It contained over a thousand warriors and 90 chariots of wood. It was unveiled to the public in 1994. Archeologists came also in 1976 upon No. 3 Pit, which is 25 meters northwest of No. 1 Pit. It looked like the command center of the armed forces. It went on display in 1989, with 68 warriors, a war chariot and four horses.