Ancient treasures of China's first emperor have arrived in Alicante on Spain's eastern coast. This exhibition has been five years in the making, but that's nothing compared to the near 2,000 years the Terracotta Warriors spent buried underground, undiscovered.

Created by and for the enigmatic emperor Qin Shi Huang, they were discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974. 

Two thousand soldiers, horses, chariots, and more have been discovered, and estimates suggest at least 8,000 exist.

What is the Terracotta Army?

Its army of clay soldiers was built for the emperor Qin Shi Huang to take to the other world with him. 

One of the largest and most astonishing archeological discoveries of all time, the site in Xi'an, measured by ground-penetrating radar and core sampling, covers just under 100 square kilometers.

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The life-size soldiers, horses and chariots emerging from the underground site have caught the global imagination, but there are many other objects that have been unearthed that shine a light on life during the Qin Dynasty.

The exhibition in Alicante features 124 pieces. This includes precious cultural relics from the Qin and Han period covering true-to-life terracotta figures, pottery and decorative ceramics, gold, silver and bronze jewelry and war artifacts, intricate jade creations and more.

Proud unveiling in Spain

The show's curator, Dr. Marcos Martinon-Torres, could hardly hide his emotions. "We couldn't be more excited than we are," he told CGTN. 

He is standing next to a Terracotta Warrior protected by a huge thick glass tube, the light and reflections giving it an almost surreal feel. 

"The first connections and exchanges started in 2018, but then the pandemic hit," he added. "Now it's finally here.

"I feel tremendously overwhelmed by the privilege that it is to be able to study these artifacts up close and to contribute to our understanding, but also to their presentation to the public.

"Now it's time to make some unforgettable memories for the people of Alicante and beyond."

Building cultural ties

The guest of honor at the opening day proceedings was Hu Heping, China's Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

"China and Spain may be thousands of miles apart and have different circumstances and situations, but both are rich in history and cultural heritage," he said in his address to a packed auditorium in Alicante's MARQ Museum.

"Cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation have become increasingly close and have played a role as a bridge and link to enhance mutual understanding and appreciation."

The arrival of the Terracotta Warriors is part of the celebrations of the 50-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Spain and China. 

The opening of the exhibition also coincides with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's visit to Beijing where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first official visit between the two nations since Xi's visit to Spain in 2018.

Alicante's tourist bounce

Over the past 40 years the Terracotta army site and the museum in Xi'an has received over 100 million visitors.

Now nine of the emperor's guardians and a horse, among over 120 priceless pieces, are on display in Alicante until 2024. This unique exhibition should mean a huge boost for local tourism.

In 2018 a similar exhibition in Liverpool in the UK received over 610,000 visitors marveling at these historic wonders.

Alicante is expecting a similar response in the soldiers' first appearance outside China since the pandemic began. The arrival of ancient China's biggest stars showcasing the strengthening ties between the two nations.

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