On the Discovery Channel this coming Sunday, January 29, 9-11 PM ET/PT, is a new special on the first emperor of China, Emperor Chin (also spelled Qin). Emperor Chin or Shi Huangdi [246-210 BC], is known as the Tiger of Qin, and the unifier of all China who ruled between 221 and 210 BC. Emperor Qin built much of the Great Wall of China, but is best known in archaeological circles for his legendary tomb. In 1974, workmen discovered the tomb of Shi Huangdi near the city of Xi'an in the modern Shensi province. Among the treasures found there is a marvelous army of terracotta soldiers and horses, consisting of nearly 8,000 life sized individual statues that were sculpted from clay and fired.
Although I haven't seen the whole special as of yet, this exclusive video gives a taste of the treats in store. The clip illustrates bronze armaments from Qin's tomb, a sword and halberd, described by University of California professor of Chinese Jeffrey Riegel. I'm guessing, but cannot swear to it, that the Chinese professor Yuan standing behind Riegel in the clip must be Professor Yuan Zhongyi, who has conducted work at the tomb since 1974, and today is the director of excavations and the on-site museum open to visitors. 
The special includes footage at the tomb while it is being excavated and in the laboratory, as well as reconstructions of battle and palace scenes of the Emperor Qin. From the glimpse provided by the video (versions in Quicktime, RealMedia and WindowsMedia), it should be interesting! These photographs and the video were provided by the Discovery Channel.
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