A conservator restores a terracotta warrior sculpture unearthed from Emperor Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum in July 2021 in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province. Photo: Zhang Yichen/China News Service, VCG

On Wednesday, archaeologists displayed new pottery figurines unearthed from Pit 9901, including a “lying” terracotta warrior. Temporaily named “supine figure,” the relic is unique because other excavated terracotta figurines are either sitting or standing. The figure measures 154 centimeters (60 inches) in length and 101 kilograms (222 pounds) in weight. Photo: VCG

A relic conservator repairs a damaged bronze relic in May 2020 in Shijiazhuang, North China’s Hebei province. In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to train more people in conserving and restoring cultural relics. Photo: VCG

A conservator repairs an ancient book at the Sun Yat-sen Library of Guangdong province in May 2018. Photo: VCG

A conservator puts together fragments of an old painting in November 2017 in Puyang, Central China’s Henan province. Photo: VCG

A restorer assembles pieces of porcelain at the archaeological work area of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing in December 2020. Photo: VCG

A damaged mural is being restored at the Yongle Palace in June 2021 in Yunchen, North China’s Shanxi province. The Taoist temple is known for the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) murals there. Photo: VCG

Li Yunhe, a renowned mural conservator in China, inspects a buddha head at a cultural relic restoration lab in October 2017 in Guazhou, Northwest China’s Gansu province. Photo: VCG