1In nineteen seventy-four, farmers digging a well near Xian made an astonishing discovery.
2Beneath their fields lay thousands of life-sized clay soldiers in perfect rows.
3The figures had guarded the tomb of China's first emperor for two thousand years.
4Each warrior has a different face, hairstyle, and expression, like a real person.
5Archaeologists believe there are around eight thousand soldiers buried in the pits.
6Alongside the soldiers stand hundreds of clay horses and beautifully made bronze chariots.
7The emperor wanted a complete army to protect him in the afterlife.
8Originally the figures were painted in bright colours that faded after excavation.
9Workers continue to uncover new sections of the enormous tomb complex today.
10The site has become one of the greatest archaeological finds of modern times.
11Millions of visitors travel to Xian every year to see the silent army.