Tourist damages 2,000-year-old terracotta warriors at China’s ancient emperor’s tomb

A mentally ill tourist in Xi’an damaged two of China’s iconic terracotta warriors after jumping into a protected excavation pit at the historic site.

A domestic tourist damaged two ancient clay warriors after jumping into a protected section of China’s terracotta army site in Xi’an, authorities said on Saturday, reported The Guardian.

The terracotta was built around 209 BC. (Instagram/@ majorcantotraits)

The 30-year-old man, who was visiting the museum on Friday, climbed over the guardrail and a protective net before leaping into one of the excavation pits, according to a statement from local public security officials. The pit is as deep as 5.4 metres (18 feet), according to the museum’s official website.

The man “pushed and pulled” the terracotta figures, resulting in two of them being “damaged to varying degrees,” the statement said. He was immediately “controlled” by security personnel on site.

Authorities later revealed the man was suffering from mental illness. An investigation into the incident is underway.

Dates back to 209 BC

The terracotta army, one of China’s most significant archaeological discoveries, was built around 209 BC to guard the tomb of the country’s first emperor. With over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots, the site represents ancient China’s artistic and military prowess.

Located in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province, the site is a major tourist attraction and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Despite the incident, a museum staffer told AFP that the display remained open to the public as usual.