The mausoleum, located in Lintong County, 35 kilometers east of Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, is regarded as "the eighth wonder of the world" and has been listed as a world heritage site by the UNESCO in December 1987. It draws millions of visitors from home and abroad every year.

According to Records of History, Qin Shihuang started building his own tomb on Lishan Mountain soon after he came to the throne. Construction expanded after he unified China in 221 BC and involved 700,000 laborers. It was completed 38 years later.

The mausoleum has a square rammed earthen base and is still 76 meters high. The coffin and chamber of Qin Shihuang are in the center of the underground palace. The mausoleum site contains more than 400 tombs and vaults of articles buried with Qin Shihuang; they cover an area of 56.25 square kilometers. The main vaults include the Fault of the bronze carriage, the vault of horses, the vault of rare and precious birds and animals, the vault of stables and the vault of warriors and horses.

Nearly 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses along with tens of thousands of pieces of weaponry have been uncovered from three pits, where the terra-cotta warriors and horses have slept for almost 2,200 years. Many terracotta warriors wore overcoats and armatures with each having a weapon in their hands. They also wore leather waistbands, a pair of square-rimmed shoes and leggings, a typical costume about 2,200 years ago.

Over the past few years, a total of 50,000 historical and cultural relics have been unearthed. The painted and colored bronze carriage, drawn two bronze horses unearthed in 1980, is the largest and most elegant of its type discovered in China. The carriage is made of more than 3,000 parts, over 1,000 of them gold and silver.

The vaults of the terra cotta warriors and horses are 1.5 kilometers east of Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum and the first was discovered when local peasants were sinking wells during a drought in 1974. There are three vaults. Vault I is 14,260 square meters in area and contains 6,000 life-like terra cotta warriors and horses. On display are 1,000 soldiers, eight war chariots and 32 horses. Vault II, which covers an area of 6,000 square meters, contains 1,300 warriors and horses and 89 war chariots.

Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of pomp and vigor.The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century.It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China.

Unlike Vault I which contains only chariots and foot soldiers, Vault 11 houses warriors, war chariots, cavalrymen, and foot soldiers. Vault III is the headquarters of the underground army and is 376.64 square meters in area. In it there are 68 warriors, one war chariot and four horses. The figures epitomize soldiers of the Qin army.

The terracotta warriors in the museum look much the same at the first glance, because their shapes and costumes are similar in conformity with the designs for the military formations. But closer scrutiny reveals the differences in the details of their complexions, expressions, ages, hair styles and beards. Anker Joergensen, prime minister of Denmark, commented: "The terracotta warriors are so vivid and look differently from each other."

Included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1987.