The collection of artefacts that formed The Silent Warriors – Chinese Terracotta Solders exhibition, was carried from Malta back to Beijing via Dubai by Emirates, the Dubai-based airline. The exhibition, hosted in Malta by Heritage Malta and Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau in China, ran from March until the end of July.

Emirates’ manager for Malta and Cyprus Paul Fleri Soler said: “Our Emirates SkyCargo division carried this cargo, consisting of over 82 original artefacts in 19 crates weighing eight tons, on two separate flights.

“The impressive collection was a unique opportunity for us Maltese to view in our own country a rare classic find of life-size terracotta figures and other artefacts.”

Heritage Malta chairman Dr Mario Tabone said: “These

artefacts, dating back over 2,200 years, attracted some 72,000 visitors.”