Fake terracotta warriors destroyed by police in NW China

If you ever visit the terracotta warriors and find them a bit underwhelming, it might be because you have been taken to the wrong place.

Authorities in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Wednesday evening raided a fake resort and destroyed over 40 copycat terracotta warriors.

Spanning an area of over 600 square meters, the fake statues were found at the"Suyuanqinhuangling resort" in Lintong, the same district as the mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang, founder of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), where the real terracotta warriors are found.

Offered high commission, unlicensed guides and illegal taxi drivers often led unsuspecting tourists to the resort to see the fake warriors, confusing visitors and damaging tourism in the district, a local official said.

Following an online complaint, the district government held an urgent meeting Wednesday, starting a campaign that led to the raid.

An enforcement group of police, tourist, traffic and pricing departments was also established.

The official said that the district government had started an investigation to hold the relevant persons responsible and to prevent damage to order in the tourism market.

As the world's largest underground mausoleum, the 56 square km Mausoleum of Qinshihuang draws tourists from around the world. An army of more than 7,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses was discovered at the site in 1974. Endi