China's terracotta army to expand its ranks with new excavations

The ranks of China's famed terracotta warrior army are expanding with new excavations expected to yield hundreds more of the ancient life-size figures.

The museum overseeing the vast mausoleum of China's first emperor says it began work on March 30 on the tomb's No 2 pit, which is smaller in scale but believed to be richer in archaeological value than the already excavated No1 pit.

Along with 1,400 warrior and horse statues, the pit is believed to contain 89 war chariots and 116 mounted soldiers, offering invaluable insights into the Qin dynasty's (221-207BC) military culture, the museum said.

"The No 2 pit contains the true essence of the terracotta army," the museum's former curator was quoted as saying.

Discovered in 1974, the army is one of the country's biggest tourist draws, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. In recent years, the warriors have joined the giant panda as a tool of Chinese "soft power" and diplomacy, with several batches being exhibited overseas to enthusiastic crowds.

The army was built to guard the tomb of the first Qin emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who died in 210AD after conquering much of what is now modern China.