Liverpool makes history as it welcomes the Terracotta Warriors

There are not many occasions when you can say you’ve genuinely witnessed something historic – and not just on a TV screen but there, in front of you, face to face. Amazingly – and luckily, for us – Liverpool has played host to a number of those awe-inspiring moments in recent years – the fabulous Royal De Luxe giant street puppets and the showstopping Three Queens event to name just two examples.

And now World Museum Liverpool is set to play host to yet another historic event, and school children from across the city region are being given a chance to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity.

This Friday sees the launch of the amazing exhibition of China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors – one of the most astonishing historical discoveries in the world.

Since 1974 over 8,000 life-sized Warriors have been found in burial pits at the tomb of China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang and now a huge collection are to be displayed in Liverpool – home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.

The exhibition features more than 180 artefacts from museums across Shaanxi Province, more than half of which have never been on show in the UK before.

School groups will have exclusive access to the exhibition at a special reduced rate before opening hours on selected dates between 21 February and 2 May.

Primary schools will also be able to take part in two fascinating workshops, especially devised for the exhibition by the Museum’s Education team and Hope Street Theatre:

• Rise of the Warriors is an animated story experience, suitable for key stage one, but also available to key stage two pupils. Led by role players, children will travel back in time, escape being captured by the First Emperor and witness the wonders of his Terracotta Warriors coming to life.

• The Tiger of Qin is an archaeology workshop which will introduce key stage two pupils to the site where the Warriors were found. The group will become junior archaeologists, using hands-on investigation and their powers of deduction to consider what their discoveries reveal about this legendary man and his infamous army.

“This is a really remarkable opportunity for children who in years to come will remember this school trip,” says Jon Marrow senior education manager, at National Museums Liverpool. “Our workshops and trails have been carefully designed to bring the warriors to life and give children a meaningful experience and an understanding and appreciation for the exceptional treasures of the exhibition.”

The exhibition will run until October 28 and tickets are priced at £14.50 for adults and £5.50 for children under 17. Children under five go free.

Find out what our reviewer thought when he visited the exhibition ahead of this Friday’s launch here