It took time, but the exhibition arrived with a triumph that echoed through the halls. The Warriors of Xi’an, a showcase centered on the legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties, ultimately marked Miron’s Discóbolo as a memorable chapter in 2009 when it first reached the public eye. The event drew attention not only for its artistic gravitas but for the way it bridged ancient Chinese history with contemporary audiences, turning display into a conversation about culture, archaeology, and the enduring appeal of terracotta artistry.
The Xi’an collection has become a defining moment for the museum, attracting more than 235,000 visitors since its gates opened at the end of last March and remained open through December 21 of the preceding year. The visit window closed just after the end of the calendar year, leaving a lasting impression of how ancient artifacts can illuminate modern curiosity and spark public dialogue about China’s long imperial story. This record figure serves as a testament to the enduring draw of well-curated, historically rooted exhibitions and the way they travel across borders to engage audiences far from their place of origin.
January 28 marks the final day for enjoying the exhibition in Alicante, and the schedule leaves little room for extensions due to guidelines issued by Chinese authorities. The policy requires that objects can depart the country only after a stay of twelve months, followed by careful assembly and disassembly lasting another month. In the run-up to the closing date, online pre-sale tickets for both guided and individual tours sold out weeks in advance. Nevertheless, a limited number of on-site passes are released daily, with eighty guided passes and 140 free visits offered at the box office. This daily demand means visitors frequently queue to gain entry, and the museum opens promptly at 10 o’clock each morning to accommodate the interest that still lingers in the region and beyond.
The journey of the exhibition spanned six years of negotiations and was tempered by the pandemic, which delayed its arrival in Alicante. Still, the project finally moved forward, representing the first international departure for the museum after restrictions were lifted. The careful coordination that made this possible reflects a broader commitment to cultural exchange and the belief that people benefit from direct encounters with artifacts and interpretations that connect distant histories to present-day audiences.
Legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties, China. The Warriors of Xi’an exhibit showcases nine original terracotta figures and a horse from Xi’an, presented in Spain for the first time within a larger ensemble of six thousand pieces recovered from the tomb complex discovered in 1974. This assemblage represents a turning point in Xi’an’s historical narrative and underscores the long arc of archeological inquiry that extends back to the second century B.C. The display goes beyond a mere collection of statues; it invites visitors to trace the evolution of Chinese civilization and the ways its material culture has shaped both regional and global horizons.
What makes the exhibition remarkable is that it does not rest on a handful of sculptures alone. It includes a carefully curated selection of 120 pieces on loan from nine Chinese museums, with many of these items being shown outside of China for the first time. The display unfolds in a uniquely immersive space where design elements were crafted to heighten sensory engagement. Scene One infuses the air with the scent of cherry wood and rice, Scene Two introduces incense, and Scene Three fills the space with the aroma of lotus flower and tea. The auditory layer is woven by arrangements from Luis Ivars, who composed music that accompanies the tour and helps transport visitors into the historical atmosphere.
While the heroes in this narrative are unequivocally warriors, the MARQ experience spans millennia of Chinese history, tracing the era from a few centuries before the birth of Qin to a few centuries after. The goal is to illuminate the context surrounding the warriors—when they lived, how they came to be buried, and why their legacy matters for understanding the trajectory of Chinese culture and military organization across time.