Terracotta Army at British Museum

The Terracotta Army at British Museum is one of the biggest exhibitions to take place in London this year, and thousands of people are expected to take the chance to see it. The First Emperor, China's Terracotta Army at British Museum gives visitors to the Museum a taste of what the collection of 1000 terracotta soldiers look like.

On loan from the Museum of the Terracotta Army, the British Museum is displaying a dozen soldiers from the First Emperors collection in the converted Reading Room. In all 120 objects are on display in this UK first exhibition, making it a sure fire hit not just with Londoners but people from all over the country. Coming from one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world, this exhibition of the Terracotta Army is bound to cause a stir.

The soldiers and other exhibits on display at the British Museum First Emperor show come from the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. Soldiers of different ranks, each with their own distinct facial features, acrobats, bureaucrats, musicians and bronze birds are all on display. Showing the wealth of artistry and creative talent that was employed by the Emperor, the terracotta characters and soldiers are all utterly unique.

The creations are an amazing example of hand made mass productions from a period when it would have taken a great deal of time to make even one of the soldiers. Displayed with the iconic figures of the First Emperors Terracotta Army are the more domestic figures that were intended to entertain the Emperor in the afterlife, rather than protect him as the soldiers were supposed to do. Rarely seen outside of China the extra figures were only discovered in 1998 and are an exceptional addition to what is already a truly astonishing exhibition.

Demonstrating the historical and archaeological context of the Terracotta Army at British Museum, is the detailing of the most recent research and ongoing excavation. The exhibition also presents a more detailed look at the First Emperor himself, who is credited with first creating China as a single political entity.

Providing Londoners with an unrivaled opportunity to see the soldiers and other figures outside of China, the First Emperor exhibition allows visitors to appreciate the extraordinary scale of the army and to attempt to understand Chinas past.

The British Museum has extended its opening hours due to the exhibition's popularity and will be open Thursday to Sunday until 11:30pm. On Saturdays and Sundays the exhibition will also open earlier at 9am instead of the usual 10am.

Every day, 500 tickets will also be made available at 09:15 from the ticket desk in the Great Court for a timed visit. However, you must be at the British Museum in person, it's not possible to buy these aditionally released tickets over the phone and there is a maximum of four tickets per person.

If you would like to book tickets to see the Terracotta Army at British Museum, phone 020 7323 8181 for more information. Alternatively if you would like to book tickets online, visit the official website below.

British Museum Terracotta Army Website

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