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China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, lived between 259 and 210 B.C. While his achievements in unifying China and ushering in a new era of modern life were impressive, still, he wanted more. With immortality his driving ambition, he built himself a sprawling underground city to serve as his home in the afterlife, watched over by a vast army of warriors, horsemen, chariots and all the requisite weaponry of the day.
In 1974, farmers digging a well stumbled upon this amazing burial complex. Excavations revealed thousands of terracotta figures of soldiers, each with a unique face and attire, along with horses, jewelry and ornamentation of silver and gold. Archaeologists quickly set to work to preserve this mind-blowing legacy, and today, this site in Xi’an ranks as one of the highlights when visiting China.
For many years, traveling exhibitions have helped those who can’t make it to this faraway land get a taste for all the wonders that lie within. From Oct. 29 through Feb. 27, 2022, the town of Viernheim, just to the northeast of Mannheim, hosts such a display.
“The Terracotta Army & the Legacy of the Eternal Emperor” features around 250 objects specially staged to evoke the feel of a visit to this otherworldly realm that dates back over 2,200 years. In order to preserve the fragile pieces, much of what a visitor sees here are meticulously produced copies of the original items. Roughly three-fifths of the exhibit is made up of the warrior figures.
Following an introductory short film, visitors can plug into an audio guide that explains the objects displayed, while maps and photos create a feel for the actual burial site.
The exhibition is on display at the Rhein-Neckar Zentrum, located at Bürgermeister-Neff-Strasse 14, 68519 Viernheim and can be viewed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, except on Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1. It will also be open on Dec. 27 and 28 and Jan. 3 and4, when many children and families are on their Christmas holiday breaks.
Tickets are available both online and at a ticket office on-site. Tickets cost 15 euros for adults and 9 euros for youth ages 6 to 18. A ticket for two adults and two children goes for 40 euros. Rental of an audio guide costs an additional 3 euros. And, of course, the COVID-19 “3G” rules (vaccinated, tested or recovered) in effect at the time of one’s visit apply. For details, see https://terrakottaarmee.de/ or visit the exhibition’s Facebook page.
