Terracotta Army / Terrakotta Armee, Germany

The Terracotta Army features over 200 figures; including soldiers, generals and horses. Terrakotta Armee is an alternate name for this location. These are plaster replicas of the Chinese Terracotta Army. It represents one of several such replicas scattered around the world. This replica was toured around Germany in the mid-2000s. In spite of this, they now they stand forgotten in an abandoned German factory. They stand silent, waiting to go on display once more.

The Great China Exhibition

In the years that followed these successful tours, the figures were relocated. Their new home was an old turbine hall within a former German lignite power plant. The plan was for the figures to be the centrepiece of a new attraction. This project was to be an ambitious mixture of exhibition and entertainment. The exhibitions would cover an area of more than 10,000 square meters.

The Great China Exhibition hall was likely meant to be the main attraction, showcasing the Terracotta Army among other Chinese displays. This showcase also included replica Buddhist Temple, complete with 6m high Happy Buddha.

Other exhibitions include a German Sports Museum. In addition, there was a section covering World War Two and postwar period in Germany. Other areas showcase interesting items by decade covering the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The eclectic mismatch also included a display dedicated to the assassination of US President John F Kennedy. There was also an area with a discotheque, complete with Elvis impersonator.

Exhibition closure

In the end, it seems this eccentric collection did not resonate with the target audience. The exhibitions and attractions closed in under a year. A sad end to such a grand collection. The future of this replica Army is uncertain.

The original Chinese Terracotta Army

An extreme drought plagued the People’s Republic of China in the summer of 1974. Many farmers dug additional wells, in order to water their crops. Consequently, this set one such farmer on the path to uncovering one of the greatest Chinese archaeological treasure troves. In the Shaanxi province, these wondrous ancient Chinese relics lay hidden.

Specifically, this farmer unearthed the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang; China’s first emperor. Emperor Qin Shi died in 210 BC. After his death, his monumental tomb was filled with many treasures and funerary art. The most famous of which is the Terracotta Army. Estimates suggest that there were more than 8,000 figures in this mausoleum. Most of these were soldiers, chariots and cavalry horses. Meticulously ordered into military formation according to rank. These life-sized statues stood in battle formation.