The biggest exhibition of China's terracotta warriors is being
negotiated by the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum and the British
Museum.
If the detailed proposals are agreed, the British Museum will
hold an exhibition of the terracotta warriors, buried with the
first Chinese emperor Qinshihuang 2,200 years ago in northwestern
Shaanxi Province, sometime next year, said Wu Yongqi, director of
the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum.
The British Museum first showed interest in exhibiting the
terracotta warriors at the end of last year, according to Jin
Xianyong, director of the communication center of Shaanxi Cultural
Heritage Bureau.
British Museum director Neil MacGregor visited the bureau last
week, when the British Museum lent works for an exhibition in
Shanghai on the treasures of Mesopotamia.
"We had a primary discussion about the exhibition's schedule,
scale and technical details," Jin was quoted as saying by Friday's
Beijing News.
Jin said the 100 items to be showcased would include ancient
weapons and ceramics from the Qin Dynasty, 221- BC 207, to give a
comprehensive view of the dynasty.
The British Museum was looking forward to the exhibition of
terracotta warriors and hoped it would be agreed soon, Hannah
Boulton, the British Museum spokesperson, was quoted as saying.
The British Museum had a successful touring exhibition,
"Treasures of the World's Cultures," with a collection of 272
ancient artifacts, in Beijing in March.
(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)
