Cathay Cargo transported 10 terracotta army figures and over 200 artefacts from Xi’an to Perth via Hong Kong for the “Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor” exhibition, organised by the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration with support from the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum and the Western Australian (WA) Museum Boola Bardip.
The transportation demonstrates Cathay Cargo’s expertise in handling special cargo and its commitment to excellence and precision in moving invaluable cultural treasures.
Leveraging its Cathay Expert and Cathay Secure specialist solutions, Cathay Cargo worked closely with the shipment custodians and cargo agent partners to develop a customised transportation plan tailored to the unique nature of the cargo and the specific packaging requirements provided by the customer. The plan meticulously addressed every detail to ensure the safe and secure storage, transport and delivery of these irreplaceable pieces of history — all under the watchful eyes of CCTV surveillance and Cathay Cargo’s highly trained professionals.
Cathay Director Cargo Tom Owen expressed Cathay Cargo’s pride in being entrusted with this extraordinary responsibility: “The terracotta warriors are among China’s most iconic cultural treasures. It is a great privilege to help bring Chinese culture to the world by transporting these important relics from their home in Xi’an to Perth for the exhibition, ensuring their safe transport at every step of their journey.
“Transporting these unique pieces of history involved meticulous preparation and close collaboration between our teams, partners and authorities in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Australia to ensure every detail was carefully considered. We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase Cathay Cargo’s expertise in handling special cargo and demonstrate that ‘We Know How’.”
While the statues and artefacts originate in Xi’an, they were first transported to Zhengzhou where they were then flown to Australia via Cathay’s Hong Kong hub and transported to their final destination in Perth.
The Cathay Cargo team oversaw the inventory check and packaging process from the initial stage in Xi’an. The shipment was then tracked via GPS from departure in Xi’an until arrival at Zhengzhou Airport, whereupon the cargo was directed to a dedicated delivery zone and security channel.
Cathay Cargo developed a tailored build-up plan based on the customer’s loading diagrams to ensure the utmost care was rendered. Safety nets and straps were used to secure the artefacts, preventing any movement during transit. Experienced pallet build-up specialists also provided guidance on-site, while Cathay Cargo personnel maintained full oversight end-to-end.
The shipments were loaded in precise alignment with the customer’s specifications to minimise impact from take-off and landing, and were continuously monitored under real-time surveillance throughout the ground-handling process.
WA Museum Boola Bardip Director Museums and Exhibitions Jason Fair said: “What makes this exhibition unique and the first of its kind is its impressive collection of priceless artefacts. Most of the objects have never been seen in Australia before, with nearly half leaving China for the first time. It is our mission to inspire curiosity. We hope people gain an understanding of the culture, history and people of China as well as this pivotal moment in Chinese history.”
Cathay is proud to sponsor the “Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor” exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, which runs until 22 February 2026. Visitors will encounter the awe-inspiring terracotta warriors alongside ancient weapons and armour, sculptures of a horse and chariot, bronze vessels, palace tiles, pottery and more. Cathay Cargo will transport these artefacts back to Xi’an in 2026 after the exhibition’s conclusion.
