China Travel Forum

[Bradford]

I am going to Xian next month and am trying to figure out if photography of the Terracotta warriors is possible. I have read conflicting accounts on the web, including some references to the need for a permit. Any info would be appreciated.

[Peter]

We spent 3 weeks in various areas (including one of the last Yangtze River cruises). We were allowed to take pictures inside all the areas showing the Terracotta Warriors. We used our flashes as well with no problems. It was an amazing trip...
I hope that when you are thinking of bringing back the travel memory to home with so many pictures taken in the places where it is forbidden you may think of something about protecting the relics. Remembering things in your mind can also make the trip memorable. If you keep do harm to the cutural relics, we will lose them in the near future. Please try to leave some good things for the future.
If you are very interested in the pictures why don't you buy some post-cards or something? They must be more beautiful than what you can take.
I snapped some photos of smiling children in their common compound. Common compound is a open space surrounded on four sides by terraced houses. It serves as a playground for children, an activity-corner for the folks to chit-chat and car parks. Nobody raised any objection while I was happily snapping away until the guard of the tea plantation approached and detained me for taking photographs without permission.