Which UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for the terracotta warriors buried near Xi’an?

The UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the terracotta warriors near Xi’an is the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

The site centers on the burial complex of Qin Shi Huang, who unified China in 221 BCE and became its first emperor. Thousands of life-size terracotta figures were created to accompany him in the afterlife, including soldiers, chariot horses, officials, and other figures.

The terracotta army was discovered in 1974 by workers digging a well near Xi’an. Archaeologists identified several large pits containing the figures, many of which were originally painted and equipped with real bronze weapons. The figures differ in facial features, clothing, hairstyles, and rank, although their appearance has been affected by time and excavation.

UNESCO inscribed the mausoleum site in 1987. The terracotta pits are only part of the larger imperial funerary landscape. The emperor’s central tomb mound remains unexcavated, so the famous army should not be mistaken for the complete mausoleum itself.