The First Emperor - China's Terracotta Army at the British Museum
The First Emperor - China's Terracotta Army is one of the most groundbreaking and hotly anticipated exhibitions ever held at the British Museum in London. It's been on since September 2007 and runs until 6 April 2008.
The exhibition showcases the largest collection of archaeological finds from the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, laid to rest 2,000 years ago. It's a great opportunity to see 12 of the world-famous terracotta warriors from Xi'an, China, which were some of the 7,000 buried alongside the First Emperor to serve him in the afterlife.
The Emperor was born Ying Zheng, and became the King of Qin at the age of 13 in 246BC. In 221BC he succeeded in unifying the warring states to create what we now know as China. He ruled as the First Emperor of Qin (Qin Shihuangdi) from 221 - 210BC, and was credited with the first Great Wall, built in 215BC.
After many years in power the Emperor developed a desire to rule forever. He spent over 30 years building his tomb complex, in which the iconic terracotta warriors were buried. As well as the warriors, you can see over 100 other artefacts from the Emperor's tomb.
The exhibition is a once in a lifetime chance to see the fascinating remains of ancient China, and learn about the legacy of one of its most influential rulers. There are events running alongside the exhibition, including documentaries, debates and lectures.
Tickets cost £12 for adults and £10 for children. Because tickets are in such high demand, 500 tickets are released each day at 09:15 to buy in person at the ticket desk in the Great Court. For more information on the exhibition and tickets, visit the British Museum - The First Emperor (www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/all_current_exhibitions/the_first_emperor.aspx).