The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army Review

This exhibition sees the biggest loan of the world's most famous clay figures ever to leave China.

In 1974, a farmer found the first warriors and it is now thought there are about 7,000 figures buried in three pits to 'guard' the First Emperor's tomb. The figures were built by slaves and you can see a model of the manufacturing process plus a slave's shackle. The figures vary in height according to their rank; the tallest being the Generals. The heights range is 184-197cm (6ft - 6ft 5in). They were mass-produced but their hair and facial features were added by hand. Possibly because of the size of the statues, they seem so real and like individual people.

You enter the circular Reading Room through a dark tunnel which you follow round to steps up to the start of the exhibition. (A lift/elevator is available.) There are no atmospheric sounds and it is dark to preserve the exhibits. Do look up at the domed ceiling when you arrive as it gives you the feeling of being in a planetarium.

A large video screen near the start explains about the First Emperor's life and there are more projections to watch later where you can see the pits in China and find out about the tomb at the heart of the complex that hasn't been excavated. Rivers of mercury are preserving the content and I learned that no-one will excavate the tomb until they work out how to preserve the contents which could take decades.

The exhibitions winds around till you come to the main 'room' housing the standing warriors lined up. I had the magical moment of having the whole room to myself and I got butterflies in my tum as I took in the spectacle. I was very excited about seeing this exhibition and I was not disappointed. Don’t walk in expecting to see a thousand-strong army but there are enough to enjoy. And they seem so lifelike as they are our size and have facial expressions of concentration and serenity.

There are not only warriors; the 12 army members and 3 horses are accompanied by:

• bronze chariots for journeys in the afterlife around the palace
• acrobats and musicians to entertain in the afterlife
• and two civil officers needed in the afterlife as palace administrators.

The terracotta musicians and bronze birds are the most recent finds so it a real treat to see them. And make sure you look at the kneeling archer near the exit which still has some color, plus the reconstruction of what it is believed the archer would have looked like in full-color.

The Qin dynasty lasted 221-206BC and Qin Shihuangdi died in 210BC, aged 49. (Qin is pronounced 'Chin' and is probably the origin of the western word 'China'.)

The First Emperor standardized the Chinese characters which allowed him to govern a unified empire, and he introduced standard weights and measures, and money.

You can learn a lot about Chinese history from visiting this exhibition although it is not documented how much of a tyrant he was considered to be but I think you can infer that from the changes he made and what he made people do.

Do look out for the wooden model of an Imperial Palace. The First Emperor built 270 palaces(!) in the style of each state he fought and conquered.

As you would expect, the tour exit leads you through a well-stocked gift shop. Souvenirs include:

• Model warriors: from £6.99
• Mugs: £7.99
• Bar of chocolate: £2.25
• Tea Towel: £5.99
• Pen: 75P
• Postcards: 60p each
• The exhibition catalogues are stunning and start from £9.99.