Modi in China: PM impressed with upkeep of Terracotta Warriors Museum

Updated: Thursday, May 14, 2015, 16:11 [IST]

Xi'an (China), May 14: Visiting the historic Terracotta Warriors Museum at Xi'an Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday began his tour of China and praised the impressive care with which the precious heritage has been preserved.

PM wrote in the museum's visitors' book, "The Terracotta Army is a heritage of the world. It is a testimony to China's civilisational achievements. I am deeply impressed by the extraordinary care with which this precious heritage has been preserved."

Earlier, PM Modi went around the museum that houses neat rows of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

The museum has a collection of over 8,000 life-size clay warriors. Modi, attired in a white kurta-churidar with a colourful shawl draped around his shoulder, went around the museum and listened attentively to the guide.

Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi province and the hometown of President Xi Jinping. Modi and Xi are to scheduled to hold their summit meeting later.

Xi'an is also associated with Chinese traveller and famous Buddhist scholar Xuan Zang or Hieun Tsang who travelled extensively in India in 629 to 645 AD.