Written by Paul

The Terracotta Warriors consists of 8,000 horses and men. It took about 30 years to create. According to legend it is very elaborate and beautiful.
Qin Shi was China’s first emperor. At the young age of only thirteen, he immediately began construction of his mausoleum. He constructed this wonder near Xian, which is located in Shaanxi province.
Each man and each horse is unique. Every warrior has its own style of dress, facial expression, and its own weaponry.
Because they are divided in military formation, all 8,000 Terracotta Warriors are housed in three separate chambers - one for each section of the army. Active duty troops are in the largest chamber, and reserve warriors are placed in a smaller chamber. A group of 68 elite officers and commanders are housed in a third chamber. Warriors were sculpted with three-inch thick terracotta clay.
The three major chambers themselves are part of a much larger burial complex. The area that contains the Terracotta Warriors is designed like a city; it has protecting walls, a palace, and even a cemetery. It was to be the Qin capital during his afterlife adventures.

Citation:
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/wilson/ant304/biography/arybios98/smithbio.html