The Shaanxi government's decision to allow Japanese blind visitors to touch the famous terracotta warriors last Sunday has raised questions about the preservation of these historical relics.

A Japanese tourist, who is sight-impaired, touches a terracotta warrior in the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, April 22, 2007. [Xinhua]

These sight-impaired tourists were allowed to go down to the pit at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum to touch the ancient figures - which is forbidden under ordinary conditions. Their special treatment made Xi'an locals worry about the city government's proper protection of their heritage. They are afraid visitors touching the statues will harm them.

The deputy director of the museum said special arrangements were made after hearing the Japanese tourists wanted to realize their long-term dream of having close contact with the terracotta warriors and horses in the museum. The museum got permission from Shaanxi Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage to let the group down into the pit.

"These terracotta figures are in stable condition, and because they wore gloves, they didn't harm them, explained Tian Jing, the museum's deputy director said to the Shaanxi Huashang Daily Monday.

Tian added although visitors are forbidden from touching these statues, certain groups of people can enjoy the museum under restricted conditions by permission from the provincial administration, like the Japanese blind tourists.

Even for these special groups of people, the museum just allows them to touch some unglazed statues in a specific pit to avoid the potential harm caused by sweat and other substances on people's hands.

Only a restricted number of visitors were allowed to gently touch the figures with gloves on. They were also strictly supervised by museum staff for security reasons.

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