Fourteen years after their last U.S. appearance, the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors—often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World”—have returned to Southern California in a landmark exhibition showcasing China’s latest archaeological breakthroughs.
World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century opens to the public on May 24 at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. Presented in partnership with the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, and the Bowers Museum, the exhibition will later travel to Houston.
A New Chapter in an Ancient Story
Featuring 108 artifacts—including 21 Class I National Treasures of China—this exhibition chronicles over 2,200 years of early Chinese civilization, from Neolithic settlements to the rise of the Qin Empire. Many of the objects are making their overseas debut.
Curated into five thematic sections, the exhibition highlights discoveries from major archaeological sites in Shaanxi Province such as Shimao, Zhaigou, Shigushan, Liangdaicun, and Yongcheng. These finds reveal new insight into the political, military, and artistic transformations that shaped China’s imperial legacy.
A Technological and Cultural Immersion
This is not a traditional museum show. Utilizing virtual reality, animated reconstructions, and ambient sound design, World of the Terracotta Warriors offers a deeply immersive journey through ancient China.
“This exhibition is a dialogue across millennia,” said Dr. Tianlong Jiao, Chief Curator and Vice President of the Bowers Museum. “Over half of the objects on display were unearthed in the 21st century. We are presenting new stories, new knowledge, and a broader view of Chinese civilization.”
More Than the Qin Army
The exhibition builds on the Bowers Museum’s historic 2008 U.S. premiere of Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, and its 2011 follow-up, Warriors, Tombs, and Temples. The new exhibition expands that legacy with never-before-seen artifacts, including bronze vessels, jade ornaments, gold adornments, and chariot regalia—offering a richer narrative of China’s formative centuries.
“This is more than a showcase of the Qin army,” said Dr. Jiao. “It’s a chance to explore the shared roots of civilization and understand the past in a way that speaks to our present.”
World of the Terracotta Warriors runs from May 24 to October 20, 2025 at the Bowers Museum before heading to its next stop in Houston. For tickets and information, visit www.bowers.org.
