The thud of clay hitting a wooden worktable fills the air as 15-year-old Yun Ye-chan presses damp earth into a mold, trying to recreate a history he has only ever read about in school textbooks.
"I've always been curious about the Terracotta Warriors and Chariots," the student from the Republic of Korea said, glancing at the figurine taking shape in his hands. "Being able to recreate this 2,000-year-old miracle with my own hands means more than just visiting them."
Yun, visiting China for the first time, is among a growing number of foreign tourists venturing beyond the country's traditional sightseeing circuit to literally shape their own special experience.
At a workshop near the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, visitors can create miniature Terracotta Warriors, just steps from where the life-size army has stood guard over China's first emperor for more than two millennia.
In recent years, replicas of Chinese antiquities such as the Terracotta Warriors have gained popularity overseas.
In 2021, a South Korean man who spent 130,000 won ($90) on a Terracotta Warrior figurine became a trending topic on Chinese social media. By 2024, photos circulated online of life-size Terracotta Warriors standing guard outside homes in Germany and parks in Britain. More recently, footage of a couple in the United States unpacking a life-size warrior they ordered from China after a visit went viral in January.
Thanks to China's expanded visa-free transit policies and a shift toward experiential travel, international visitors are no longer content just to see the warriors — they want to make their own.
"We had a British client who made a kneeling archer that had his own face," said Han Mi, who runs the workshop. "Later, he came back to order another figure as an anniversary gift for his wife. When your work gets that kind of response, you feel proud — not just for yourself, but that our traditional culture resonates with them."
Since December 2024, eligible travelers from 54 countries, which were later increased to 55, transiting through designated regions — including Shaanxi — can stay up to 10 days without a visa, a significant increase from the previous 72 — and 144-hour limits. Ministry of Public Security data showed in January that foreign arrivals in China rose 27.2 percent to 40.6 million in the year since the change.
Zhang Tianzhu, a staff member at the museum in Xi'an, said the number of foreign tourists has grown by almost 20 percent since the measures took effect. The museum now receives about 1,000 international visitors daily, including travelers from Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
More than a decade ago, Han inherited the family business from her father, who spent four decades mastering the sculpting techniques. She transformed what was once a closed-door production workshop into an interactive cultural space that welcomed more than 5,000 international visitors last year.
For Han, the international interest has exceeded expectations. In 2015, she began developing structured experience courses aimed primarily at domestic visitors — a response to national policies encouraging study tours for school students. She never imagined that a decade later, her workshop would become a destination for travelers from around the world.
"Sometimes there are language barriers," she said. "But culture is universal. Each figurine becomes a small bridge, and every participant helps build that bridge."
Clients can now choose from over 20 figurine styles in various sizes, including traditional warriors, civil officials, ceramic horses and cartoon-inspired designs. Prices start at 55 yuan for basic mold-making experiences.
The workshop offers tiered activities: simple mold pressing for beginners, collaborative team projects using ancient coiling techniques, and restoration courses that simulate archaeological repair work.
Han has adapted her offerings to suit international tastes while preserving traditional elements like armor patterns and hairstyles. Some visitors even request custom designs that incorporate familiar characters or motifs from their home countries.
"It's a cultural fusion," Han said. "It makes you feel that the Terracotta Warriors aren't just our cultural heritage — they belong to the world."
Ma Yilin contributed to this story.
Contact the writers at lilei@chinadaily.com.cn
