Photo by Disney

For most families, traveling around the world and exploring different countries is something that dreams are made of but rarely come true.  Luckily, a trip to Walt Disney World and EPCOT, can help fulfill that dream and the cost is much easier on the pocketbook.  EPCOT‘s World Showcase features pavilions for eleven countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada.  Each pavilion features architecture, shopping, dining, attractions and exhibits meant to represent that particular country.

Exhibit – Tomb Warriors

One particularly interesting exhibit is the Tomb Warriors, Guardian Spirits of Ancient China exhibit which is located in the House of the Whispering Willows gallery.  The gallery entrance is adjacent to Reflections of China.   In my opinion,  the Tomb Warriors is a true treasure that should not be missed. If you have taken your children out of school with the promise of doing something educational while on vacation, this is the place to take them.

The terra cotta soldiers found in the gallery are replicas of those discovered in Xi’an, China, the single largest excavation in the world.    National Geographic published a story on the Terra-Cotta Army that’s worth taking the time to read: Terra-Cotta Army Protects First Emporer’s Tomb

Placards

Placards are placed near the various pieces and you’ll want to be sure and read them all so that you’ll understand the history of the soldiers.  You’ll also get a better understanding of the work that was put into unearthing the discovery made by local farmers in 1974. It is neat to read about the discovery and what was done to preserve these amazing artifacts.

Each miniature replica (the replicas are not tiny in size at all but are miniature in comparison to the soldiers found which stand nearly six feet tall), is unique and are different from the other.  It is believed that they were modeled after real soldiers thus the uniqueness of each one.

Detail

The exhibit itself is quite large and I would encourage guests to look closely at each soldier, horse and wagon from various points of view as you are sure to see a different detail as you walk around.  The pieces are magnificent.

Among the things on exhibit are examples of the tools used by the archeologist and pictures of them hard at work within the pits of the discovery site.  In the last picture, you will be able to see just how large the pieces were as the archeologist uncovered them.

More displays show just how well the archeologists and their staff documented the excavation process:

While  my family is not one who could be considered “history buffs”, we all enjoyed the Tomb Warriors exhibit immensely and spent quite a while taking in the details of each piece and reading each of the placards.  I would highly recommend that everyone visit the House of the Whispering Willows Gallery to see the exhibit for themselves.  My pictures truly do not do this outstanding exhibition justice.