Forbidden Gardens, in Katy, Texas, is a fascinating outdoor museum replicating some of China's major historic scenes. Guided tours take you back to the third century BC to view the first Emperor's amazing 8,000 piece terra-cotta army replicated in 1/3 scale. The tour continues to the intricately detailed miniatures of the famous Forbidden City in Beijing which served as palaces for nearly 500 years of Imperial rule in 1/20 scale.
http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/index.html
These life sized terra cotta figures are all different in some way(all 8000!). They were designed after his own personal guards. The figures are hollow and were setup where he was to be buried so that when the warriors died their spirits would inhabit the figures to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
I wish I could describe in words how impressive this is here, but I'll let the photo do the talking for me.
This project was funded by a Hong Kong business man for $40mm with a 20 year plan(this is year 10). His kids were going to school in the US and he felt they were loosing touch with their heritage.
(constructive critique is welcome)
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