SYDNEY, Feb.14 -- Sydney Mayor Clover Moore and artist Xia Nan, on 14 February, turned on the lights of one of the most breathtaking components, the Terracotta Warriors, for Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival.

The Lanterns of The Terracotta Warriors were illuminated for the first time in Australia at the 19th Sydney Chinese New Year Festival launch at Dawes Point.

The massive installation features 90 warriors standing 2.1m tall, along with two warrior horses, and will light up Hickson Road Reserve during this year’s festival from 13 to 22 February.

The artwork was created for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 by a team of Chinese artists, including Xia Nan. It was inspired by the famous army of terracotta warriors uncovered in the tomb of China’s first Emperor in 1974, and uses traditional Chinese lantern designs to re-imagine the awe-inspiring historic discovery.

The warriors shine in red, green, yellow and blue and, as they are fashioned out of fabric and wire, they will have all the delicacy of a traditional Chinese lantern.

“The City of Sydney is delighted to present this wonderful artwork in Australia for the first time as part of our 2015 Chinese New Year Festival”, said Mayor Clover Moore.

“Sydneysiders and visitors will be enchanted by the lanterns, which will complement the iconic view of our stunning harbour and Opera House.”

China’s terracotta warriors captured the imagination of the world when they were unearthed in Shaanxi Province. The lantern warriors are accurate replicas of the original 8,000 warriors and horses, although artist Xia Nan has decided to add women and children as they represent inheritance and the future.

The Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors exhibition, located at Dawes Point, has previously only been shown in China and the United Kingdom.

From lanterns to fashion and even a Buddha made from ash, there is a host of other fabulous exhibitions and activities taking place over Chinese New Year.