On Sept. 3, 2026, conservators carefully joined fragments of a clay figure at an in-situ conservation laboratory at Pit No. 1 of the Museum of Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum in Xi’an, located in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.
At Xi’an’s internationally renowned Terracotta Warriors site, visitors can now observe what was once carried out away from public view: specialists delicately repairing clay soldiers that are more than two millennia old. Inside the newly established conservation laboratory beside Pit No. 1, experts fit broken ceramic pieces together by hand, turning scattered archaeological remains into solemn, full-sized warriors once again.
The laboratory began operations in 2024, marking half a century since the celebrated Terracotta Warriors were first discovered and excavated. A dedicated excavation and preservation center at Pit No. 2 has also been completed and is now functioning. Together, the two centers create a complete conservation chain that handles excavation, transfer, restoration and storage.
This modern setup has greatly strengthened efforts to safeguard the original coloring of the figures. After lying buried for more than 2,000 years, the Terracotta Warriors were badly affected by burning, collapsing earth and changing groundwater, causing much of their original paint to disappear. In the past, any remaining pigment could quickly curl, lift or break away when exposed to sharp environmental shifts after being uncovered. Now, freshly excavated painted fragments are taken straight to the on-site laboratory. By maintaining steady humidity, using ultrasonic testing and 3D scanning, and applying careful cleaning and strengthening treatments, researchers are making every effort to retain the warriors’ ancient colors. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
On Sept. 3, 2026, a restoration expert troubleshoots sensors used to restore Terracotta Warriors at the in-situ conservation laboratory of Pit No. 1 at the Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province in northwest China. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
