A new exhibition of early Chinese artefacts opens today at Thailand's National Museum. The show is part of an effort to boost visitor numbers at Thailand's museums which often lose out to tourists seeking sunshine and beaches. And to pull in the crowds, the museum has recruited some very recognizable faces from ancient China.

On the busy streets of Bangkok, just down the road from the Grand Palace, a new attraction is coming to town. The Thai capital, not unused to soldiers on the streets, is preparing for another invading army. These soldiers are more than two thousand years old, however, and as the final preparations are made for a Gala opening, from Monday, Thailand's National Museum will be occupied by the Terracotta warriors. 

The soldiers, from the Tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi in Xi An, are one of the most celebrated artefacts from ancient China. And the honor of temporary guardianship, is a sign of the strong bond between China and Thailand, says the museum director.

ANANDHA CHUCHOTI, DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS NATIONAL MUSEUM "Even though everybody said it would be difficult to get permission, thanks to the good relationship between our two governments, it helped make negotiations less complicated."

The exhibition is made up of 87 pieces in all, but the life-size terracotta warriors are the big draw. It's part of an effort by Thailand's National Museum to reinvigorate interest with a world-class event, and revive flagging visitor numbers. 

But bringing these ancient statues out of their home in the bone dry climate of Shaanxi Province to one of the most humid cities in the world is fraught with danger. Already the warriors have shown a few signs of discomfort in their new home, but their minders are confident everything is under control.

JIANG PENG SHAANXI HISTORY MUSEUM "It's not so difficult, but it's technical, we have let them treat it here, and after the exhibition, we move them back to China and we will treat them in Xi'an better".

TONY CHENG BANGKOK, THAILAND "The exhibition highlights other innovations of the Qin dynasty like the maritime silk road, opening up new trading routes down to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, very much like today's Belt and Road policy engaging new trade partners with Modern China."

The organisers hope that the well-known faces of these ancient warriors will pull in more than 200,000 visitors in the next 3 months, a record for any Thai museum, Tony Cheng, CGTN, Bangkok.