nor

  Under the rolling hills of Lintong District, Xi'an, is an archaeological wonder that has mesmerized the globe: the Terracotta Army.  This gigantic underground army, made up of thousands of life-size terracotta warriors, chariots, and horses, is the quiet, eternal sentinels of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.  Discovered accidentally by local farmers in 1974, the Terracotta Army offers an unparalleled glimpse into the ambition, power, and artistic sophistication of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) and the emperor who unified China. The Vision of an Emperor: Qin Shi Huang, a historical giant, ascended to the leadership of the Qin state in 247 BCE and unilaterally integrated the warring states of China through constant war campaigns by 221 BCE.  He titled himself the "First Emperor." Obsessed with immortality and his ambition to continue indefinitely, he began constructing his grand mausoleum shortly after his coronation.  This epic project, taking decades and ...