When one thinks of Xian, China, the first thing that likely comes to mind, is the museum of the mysterious Terracotta Warriors. This is perhaps the city's most iconic attraction, and rightly so. Gaze at rows upon rows of stony-faced soldiers as they stand vigil, ever-ready to serve their Emperor, Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. It is believed that the craftsmen who were commissioned to fashion the terracotta army, were cruelly murdered after its completion, in order to keep the Emperor's immortal sentinels, a secret.
Qin Shi Huang was the founder of the ancient Qin Dynasty which lasted briefly, between the years 221 and 206 BC. The importance of this dynasty is that it was the first one that ruled over a unified China. If you are staying at one of the Xi ' An hotels such as Grand Park Xian, this attraction is about a 40-minute drive away. So, you can set aside half a day or less to visit the attraction.