Not too early of a morning today as we weren’t meeting our guide, Ling, until 9 am.  Got ready for the final day of sightseeing in a leisurely fashion and had some breakfast. We met Ling in the lobby and drove for almost an hour to the Terracotta Warrior site.  Lots of tourists as it’s Sunday.   We walked into the area and then down a garden path to the entrance – a bit of a walk!  They first pit was discovered in 1974, accidentally, when some farmers were digging a well.  One of the farmers, who is now in his eighties, apparently attends the site regularly to meet with tourists.   Unfortunately, he wasn’t there today but I did manage to get a book that he signed.  The first pit is the largest and is located in an airplane hangar type building.   The first section when you walk in is the army in battle formation.   The figures were reconstructed as there was originally a wooden roof over them, covered with dirt.   When the roof was burned by robbers, the dirt collapsed onto to army.  After the reconstructed figures there are some sections to be unearthed and since sections where they are reconstructing the pieces (terracotta “hospital”, as Ling described it).  Pit 1 was packed with tourists and groups and you had to be assertive if you wanted to take pictures or move.   My Canon Powershot SX720 with the 40x zoom worked well and I was able to get some pretty decent shots ?. After spending 40 minutes in Pit 1 (seems like a lot but you need it just to move around the pit and take a few photos) we stopped in the museum shop where I bought a couple of books.   Passed on the life-sized warrior replicas – not sure how many of those they sell… We then went to the museum building to see the bronze chariots recovered from a pit near the emperor’s tomb, which was 1/2 a mile or so away.  The chariots were less than life-sized but were still impressive.  Packed around the exhibit cases but I managed to get some okay shots.   One is a replica as the original is on loan to a museum in Shanghai. We then moved on to Pit 2 and Pit 3, which were discovered a couple of years later.   Pit 2 did not have much uncovered except for some broken up bits.  However the building housed 4 reconstructed different types of figures – a horseman, a general, an archer and a kneeling archer – all surrounded by the crowds.   Took a few photos and moved onto Pit 3.   Pit 3 had a small number of figures and they appeared to be higher ranking and it may have been a “headquarters” as they were mostly facing each other.   Not too many people here so we were able to get some decent photos.  We then headed out of the sight and to the little village nearby to have lunch in a farmer’s house turned restaurant for some tourists.   The food was great and different from that we’ve had previously.   Lots of dishes and even some caramel apple slices for dessert! After lunch we then headed back to the hotel, arriving around 3:30 or so – a longer day then expected.   Took a bit of a break in the hotel after saying goodbye to the others (we’d be leaving on different flights tomorrow).  Was feeling pretty lazy but managed to head out to the South Gate to take some photos.   Walked around for a bit as the sun was starting to go down.   There seemed to have been some kind of walk or run on the walk today as there were signs and lots of people with t- shirts. After taking some photos headed back to the hotel.   Wasn’t really hungry after the massive lunch so just bought a pack of chips in a not-very-appetizing sounding “Numb and Spicy Hotpot Flavour”. Packing and working on my final blog before heading to bed.   Will be posting more photos in an album on the photo page once I get home.   For some reason the mobile version only wants to let me add one photo at a time.   China has been great and I’ll definitely be back to explore some others areas!