Cathay Cargo transported 10 terracotta army figures and more than 200 artifacts from Xi’an to Perth via Hong Kong for an international exhibition, demonstrating the carrier's ability to handle special cargo and move high-value cultural items with specialized handling and security protocols.

The artifacts will be displayed at the “Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor” exhibition, organized by Chinese and Australian cultural institutions. The shipment included items from Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and marked one of the largest transfers of ancient Chinese relics to Australia.

Cathay Cargo said it worked closely with the shipment custodians and cargo agent partners to develop a customized transportation plan tailored to the unique nature of the cargo and the specific packaging requirements provided by the customer, leveraging its Cathay Expert and Cathay Secure specialist solutions.

"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," said Tom Owen, Cathay Director Cargo.

"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," he added.

While the statues and artifacts 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 its departure in Xi’an until it arrived at Zhengzhou Airport, where it was directed to a dedicated delivery zone and security channel.

Cathay Cargo said it 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 artifacts, preventing any movement during transit.

The carrier will transport these artifacts back to Xi’an in 2026 after the exhibition's conclusion.