A 26-year-old German art student foxed police on Saturday by disguising himself as a terracotta warrior and taking up position in the world-famous terracotta army.

Pablo Wendel was seen jumping into the five-meter deep pit at 2 p.m. on Saturday to join about 2,000 unearthed warriors and horses housed in the terracotta army museum in Xi'an, local police told Xinhua on Sunday.

The sudden movement of the shadowy figure startled the six police officers on duty, who rushed over and followed Wendel into the pit.

But Wendel had come prepared. He had carried out a reconnaissance mission a few days earlier and had selected a spot among the warriors that would give him the most cover.

Better still, he had designed himself a gown and hat, identical to those once worn by Emperor Qinshihuang's warriors, in Hangzhou in east China where he currently studies performance art, and even brought a rectangular plinth to stand on. After leaping into the pit, he quickly donned his costume and waited.

Police said it took them two minutes to find the "living terracotta warrior", clad in military garb and staring straight ahead with unblinking eyes.

The police officers tried to force him to leave but Wendel persisted with his pose. Finally, the police officers picked up the prostrate figure and carried him out as if he was a log, the police said.

Wendel, whose Chinese name is Ma Lin, said that he has been crazy about the terracotta warriors since childhood. "I have always dreamed of disguising myself as a terracotta warrior among the real ones," he explained.

Police considered that as Wendel's actions did not cause any damage to the cultural relics and he was clearly passionate about the warriors, it only warranted "serious criticism and education". His outfit was also confiscated and he was sent back to Hangzhou by local police on Saturday evening.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2006)