Terracotta Warriors exhibition 'a symbol of closer Thailand-China ties'

The first exhibition of the emblematic ancient Terracotta Warriors will deepen both cultural and economic cooperation between China and Thailand, China's ambassador to Thailand Lyu Jian said.

Thailand and China kicked off the exhibition of “Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China and Terracotta Warriors” at the National Museum on Sunday (September 15) where it will run until December 15.

The exhibition features 86 sets of artefacts including a battalion of terracotta soldiers, archers and charioteers, each with unique facial features, costumes, weapons and even hairstyles.

The Terracotta Warriors being exhibited in Thailand are a part of the 8,000-man clay army, made in around 250BC for the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Chinese farmers first stumbled upon the tomb in Xian, capital of the northern province of Shaanxi. An archaeologist identified fragments of terracotta found by local farmers digging a well in 1974 .The site is among the first Unesco World Heritage sites in China, winning the  Unesco heritage listing in 1987. Since then, it has become one of major tourist destinations.

In an article about the exhibition,  Lyu Jian wrote that cultural exchange would deepen the 44 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The exhibition takes place this year when China is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and Thailand held the auspicious coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn, he wrote. He said the Thai Royal Family in the past had also supported China in conserving the ancient Terracotta Warriors.

 

“China-Thailand friendship is a bond of brotherhood that has been taking deep root in the heart of people on both sides, from past to present and the two governments had signed a cultural cooperation agreement in 2001..leading to other exchanges later including this Qin Shi Huang event ,” he wrote.

He added that the deepening relationship could be seen from the millions of Thai people who have studied Chinese language.

On the economic side, more than 10 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand last year and more than 40,000 Chinese studied in Thailand. China has also linked its Belt and Road Initiative with Thailand 4.0 and the Eastern Economic Corridor, he added.

 

The exhibition is being organised at a total cost of Bt60 million. More than 400 clay artifacts made 2,700 years ago from a national graveyard, as well as special items exclusively from 14 Chinese museums, will be on display.

Two special sessions are scheduled on Monday and Tuesday (September 16-17), before normal sessions every Sunday to Wednesday from 9am to 4 pm until December 15. Thai visitors will be charged a fee of Bt30 per person while foreigners will pay Bt200 per head.