terra cotta warriors

the terra cotta warriors are like something you see in books with colored pictures that are supposed to teach kids about history or show cool things around the world. i saw the terra cotta warriors in books like this before, but it was never something i thought i would actually see. funny that when i actually saw them, i didn't think of that at all. i didn't think, "wow, it's crazy that i am actually seeing this historical thing that is something that most people will just see in a picture in a book." instead it was like, we are at this tourist site and this is kind of cool, so i will take some pictures, and we will talk about the history a little bit because it's interesting. well. so here are some pictures.
the thing is, it actually is interesting, because supposedly each one is different. they are excavating them from underground, and they have built these buildings around these areas to protect them and to allow people to see them.
some of them are missing parts.
there are horses too, which i don't know if i knew before.
some of them are quite different than others.
some of them look different than others because they are supposed to be of a different rank, have a different job.
some are still being restored.
some of them may never be put back together again.
it's weird that these anciently built warriors that were found inside a tomb are now exposed to the light and thousands of people pay money to come see them.
it's like they are from another world...except not, because they are part of this very old country's history.

it's weird how being there it felt like mostly a tourist spot that had a bit more significance than others, a bit more interesting things to talk about. it's funny how historical places become tourist spots. it's weird how i felt much more interest, awe, and connection to visiting near the top of tai bai mountain, the tallest mountain in northern china. we spent a few hours at the terra cotta warriors but only about an hour around the top part of tai bai mountain. i could have stayed at tai bai mountain for way longer, probably days. tai bai mountain is way older than the terra cotta warriors too, and no person could have made it. maybe i'm just nature-starved, but as interesting as history is (and it helps to hear the stories behind a historical site before visiting it...a mistake i have not learned from in visiting historical places in china...otherwise they just become another tourist spot), i have a much stronger desire to visit places that are non-man-made.