Avid traveller Lina Cuschieri, who has practically been all over the globe for her holidays, was overjoyed when she learnt that part of the Terracotta Army from China was to be exhibited here. She first saw the army in Xi'an in August 2005, on her second visit to China.

Ms Cuschieri, who has been on a cruise to Alaska and has visited Namibia, South Africa, Canada and Thailand among her myriad travels, said she is looking forward to seeing the Terracotta soldiers again.

"There are no words to describe the experience of seeing such an awesome collection of warriors", she said while showing the photographs she took of the army in Xi'an.

The Terracotta Army has been brought to the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta by Heritage Malta. The exhibition will run between Thursday and July 31.

The life-size warriors and horses formed part of an army for Emperor Qin to use in the after life. According to archaeologists, the army, first unearthed in the 1920s near Xi'an, Shaanxi province could inlcude anything up to 7,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with horses and 110 cavalry horses.

Excavations at the Qin Shi Huang necropolis have been going on for over 30 years and so far only 1,000 soliders and 21 chariots have seen the light of day.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to admire the intricate designs of 84 original artefacts that include 10 terracotta soldiers, two horses, bronze and pottery cooking utensils, personal ornaments, weapons, coins and terracotta animals. The exhibition includes a bronze replica of the only chariot found so far in the necropolis.

Construction of the burial place began in 246 BC and is estimated to have taken 700,000 workers and craftsmen 38 years to complete. Qin Shi Huang was interred inside the mauseleum when he died in 210 BC.

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