Terracotta Army at Silverstar Casino

For those who may not know this bit of info about my ancestry, I am one eighth Chinese. How I came to that calculation is a post for another day, but suffice to say, my great grandfather was born in the then Canton province of southern China. (It is now called Guangdong – former official name was Kwangtung). So, anything relating to China is usually of interest to me, and hence, I was keen to go see the Terracotta Army and the First Emperor of China: The Exhibition.

Now, I’ve seen bits and pieces of the what is known as the Terracotta Army either in the movies or documentaries over the years, but I never really knew what they were all about – until now. Thanks to this exhibition that is currently on at Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp (now called Mogale City) in Johannesburg.

The Terracotta Army and the First Emperor of China exhibition is an extraordinary voyage that showcases the Ancient China of 2,200 years ago. It is, undeniably, the most complete exhibition ever created of the Terracotta Army, the necropolis and life of the First Emperor.

In an incredible staging, this exhibition brings together more than 300 life-sized reproductions of statues, chariots, weapons and objects from the daily life of the First Emperor of China, just as they were discovered in the more than 100 pits of the necropolis.

“We are proud of the fact that our venue has evolved into a first-class provider of leisure, gaming and entertainment for the whole family. We are also particularly excited about the fact that we have the opportunity to partner with some of the biggest names in the industry, like Expo RSA, to host international quality expos like The Terracotta Army and the First Emperor of China, amongst many other amazing events,” says Shane Collinson, Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Silverstar Casino.

In a nutshell, the Terracotta Army, which was discovered by a Chinese farmer in 1974, while digging a well, is part of an elaborate mausoleum created to accompany the first Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huang Di) into the Afterlife, according to archaeologists.

The exhibit explains how the soldiers were discovered, how they were painstakingly excavated over a number of years, and includes a video interview with the actual farmer who found the site. Each exhibit is numbered so that one can listen to the information about that exhibit, on an audio guide (which you can hire for R30).

The works displayed in The Terracotta Army and the First Emperor of China exhibition have all been reproduced by Chinese craftsmen from the original excavation site, with particular attention to detail in order to replicate the beauty and uniqueness of the originals. The reproductions are further enhanced in an authentic setting accompanied by spectacular audio-visual and lighting highlights.

The Terracotta Army and the First Emperor of China: The Exhibition takes place at:

Silverstar Casino’s The Globe, from 15 June 2016 to 24 August 2016, from 10 am to 7pm.

Tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za or at the onsite Silverstar Box Office. Prices range from R140 (adults), R85 (children), R95 (pensioners and students) or R350 for a family of four (two adults and two children). Children under the age of five enter for free. Special school packages are also available in all cities.

For more information, visit www.silverstarcasino.co.za.

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