Tourist Jumps Security Barriers to Attack Two 2,000-Year-Old Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an

A 30-year-old tourist has caused significant damage to two ancient clay warriors at China’s world-famous Terracotta Army site in Xi’an.

The man, identified only by his surname Sun, jumped over safety barriers and protective netting on Friday (30 May) before attacking the priceless sculptures.

Sun vaulted into a pit measuring 18 feet deep and began pushing and pulling the 2,000-year-old statues. Museum security quickly intervened and subdued Sun.

The pushing and pulling resulted in visible damage to two of the figures.

Mental Illness Behind Terracotta Army Vandalism as Investigation Continues

Authorities confirmed that Sun suffers from a mental illness. Police have launched a full investigation into the incident at one of China’s most treasured archaeological sites.

The Terracotta Army consists of more than 8,000 life-sized soldiers created to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Local farmers discovered the clay warriors on 29 Mar 1974 in Lintong County, outside Xi’an, Shaanxi province.

The figures date from approximately the late 200s BCE and vary in height according to their military rank. The collection includes warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians spread across multiple pits.

Archaeologists have located around 600 pits across a 22-square-mile area over the past 50 years. The three main pits contain more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses according to 2007 estimates.

The site gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987 and attracts millions of visitors annually. Museum staff confirmed the exhibit remains open to the public while officials assess the damage and plan repairs.

Heritage Sites Experience Multiple Vandalism Incidents

The Xi’an incident occurred alongside other recent vandalism cases at world heritage locations. In May, Vietnamese police detained Ho Van Phuong Tam, 42, after he broke into a history exhibit and damaged an ancient Nguyen dynasty throne.

Tam climbed onto the ornate red-and-gold throne at Hue city’s Thai Hoa Palace and broke the front left armrest. The royal seat belonged to Vietnam’s last feudal family, who ruled between 1802 and 1945.

Conservation officials said Tam showed signs of severe intoxication and psychosis. He screamed and talked nonsense during questioning and could not answer investigators’ questions.

Another vandalism case occurred at Chan Chan, Peru, where a man spray-painted a phallic symbol on a 600-year-old wall. The pre-Columbian city sits 300 miles north of Lima and receives thousands of visitors monthly.

Peru’s Ministry of Culture condemned the act as grave disrespect toward the country’s history and cultural heritage. The perpetrator violated regulations protecting archaeological heritage sites.

The Terracotta Army ranks alongside the Great Wall and Beijing’s Forbidden City as one of China’s most popular tourist attractions. The complex underground vaults demonstrate the scale and artistry of ancient Chinese craftsmanship from over two millennia ago.