CHINESE archaeologists have unearthed 110 new terracotta warriors that laid buried for centuries, an official says.

The warriors were part of an ornamental army built to symbolically guard the tomb of China's first emperor.

The life-size figures were excavated near the Qin Emperor's mausoleum in China's northern Xi'an city over the course of three years, and archaeologists also uncovered 12 pottery horses, parts of chariots, weapons and tools, the official said.

"The ... excavation on the 200-square-metre site has found a total of 110 terracotta figurines," said Shen Maosheng from the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum - which oversees the tomb.

"The most significant discovery this time around is that the relics that were found were well-preserved and colourfully painted," said Shen, deputy head of the museum's archaeology department.

He added that archaeologists had pinpointed the location of another 11 warriors but had yet to unearth them.

The discovery is the latest in China's cultural sector, after experts found that the Great Wall of China - which like the Terracotta Army is a UNESCO World Heritage site - was much longer than previously thought.

Shen said experts had expected the colours on some of the warriors and wares uncovered at the site to have faded over the centuries, and were surprised to see how well preserved they still were.

The finds also included a shield that was reportedly used by soldiers in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), with red, green and white geometric patterns.

Qin Shihuang - the Qin emperor who had the army built - presided over the unification of China in 221 BC and is seen as the first emperor of the nation.

The ancient terracotta army was discovered in 1974 by a peasant digging a well.

Originally published as Another 110 terracotta warriors unearthed