The First Emperor (China's Terracotta Army), British Museum

Advantages: Close-up view of a few of the figures
Disadvantages: Missing the 'wow'

The eponymous 'first emperor' is Ying Zheng, - first in the sense that he was the first to unify the vast area that came to form the basis of modern China (whose very name derives from his original kingdom at the centre of it Qin - pronounced 'chin') - first also in the sense of foremost, first and uppermost, which was how he saw himself: as illustrated in his adoption of the religious title Qin Shighuangdi (First August Thearch of Qin) - to be echoed ...
...title of the Holy Roman Emperor one wonders? Ask anyone at random on the street about Ying Zheng or Qin Shighuangdi and as amusing as the responses are likely to be, you will almost certainly not get a very high hit rate in terms of accuracy (unless of course you are in Great Russell Street in London, home of the British Museum) or outside one of the major oriental studies departments up and down the country. Most of us do not know the names. Ask ... Read review

Advantages: Superb sense of history, close up view
Disadvantages: crowds

...ago that we heard that The Terracotta Army was to leave the shores of China for the first time and take up temporary residence in The British Museum. This was an opportunity that simply could not be wasted as this exhibition may never find it's way to these shores again. We therefore booked tickets on-line and had a wide choice of availability in terms of time slots/dates given we were booking so far in advance. Tickets cost £12 adults/child under ...
...23 March 2008). However, given the exhibition is nearing an end all advanced tickets are sold out although up to 500 tickets (Monday - Friday) or 700 tickets (Weekend) are available on the day from the Museum. At the time we went there were few people in the queue for on the day tickets so try and get there as early as possible. ***History*** The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, was born 259 BC and was one of the world's great rulers. At the age of 13 ... Read review

Advantages: An amazing opportunity to view artefacts from the tomb of China's First Emperor.
Disadvantages: Limited amount of artefacts. The crowds!!!!

The arrival of a small delegetion from the First Chinese Emperor's terracotta army to the British Museum in London generated great interest. Over the past six months, thousands of tourists have invaded the samll space of the museum's reading room to get a glimpse of elaborate warriors standing on guard. The exhibition, simply entitled The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army, has been in London since 13th September 2007 and runs until 6th April ...
...been sold for the exhibition and approximately 1,000 bought each day at the door. Most if not all of the visitors to the exhibition have heard of and are eager to see something of the vast and magnificent terracotta army. Most though (including myself) were not fully aware of their history or that of the First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi. It is in this area, that the exhibition shone for me personally. The 12 complete members of the terracotta army ... Read review