Now, in a world-exclusive exhibition at WA Museum Boola Bardip, visitors are invited to come face-to-face with the iconic Terracotta Warriors.
Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor brings together more than 225 ancient artefacts from the Qin and Han dynasties, offering an extraordinary glimpse into an important period of Chinese history.
Among the highlights are ten terracotta figures, including a General, an armoured infantryman, a charioteer officer, a kneeling archer, a seated attendant and a saddled horse, each sculpted with individuality and purpose.
The exhibition also showcases a lifelike bronze swan, crafted using ancient lost-wax casting techniques, believed to have adorned a pleasure garden built for the emperor’s afterlife. A massive ceremonial bell, weighing nearly 50 kilograms, reveals the importance of ritual and ceremony in early Qin society, when bronze was revered for both its beauty and power. Visitors will also encounter four recently excavated gold ornaments making their global debut in Perth.
Developed through a collaboration between the People’s Republic of China Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage, the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, the Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum and the Western Australian Museum, the collection traces the emergence of a unified China and the enduring legacy of its first emperor.
Through immersive multimedia installations, visitors can explore the scale of the emperor’s tomb, the vision behind its construction and the mysteries that still lie buried within. Digital storytelling and detailed reconstructions will offer new perspectives on the world that shaped the first Emperor’s ambitions.
An extensive program of events and activities will accompany the exhibition, offering different ways to explore its themes. Highlights include after-hours performances, themed discussions, family activities, creative workshops and special events developed in collaboration with local Chinese communities.
For the first time, a season pass will also be available, allowing visitors to return and explore the exhibition at their own pace throughout the entire exhibition season.
Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor runs from 28 June 2025 to 22 February 2026.
For more information and ticket details, visit Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor.
