Cultural Artifacts

Each artifact tells a story that spans thousands of years. Explore the masterworks that define Chinese civilization.

AllBronzePaintingJadeCeramicsGoldWeaponsSculpture

Painting

Along the River During the Qingming Festival

One of the most celebrated paintings in the entire history of Chinese art — a panoramic masterpiece capturing daily life along the Bian River during the Qingming Festival in the Song Dynasty capital of Kaifeng.

The Palace Museum

Late Shang Dynasty

Bronze

Bronze Standing Figure

The tallest and oldest known bronze statue in the world — a 2.62-meter enigmatic figure with enormous hands, seemingly grasping something now lost to time.

Sanxingdui Museum

Late Shang Dynasty

Gold

Gold Mask of Sanxingdui

A hauntingly beautiful gold mask weighing about 280 grams, with protruding eyes and an enigmatic smile that has captivated the modern world.

Sanxingdui Museum

Late Shang Dynasty

Bronze

Sacred Bronze Tree

A nearly 4-meter tall bronze tree with birds, flowers, and a dragon — possibly representing the mythical Fusang Tree connecting heaven and earth.

Sanxingdui Museum

Late Shang Dynasty

Bronze

Simuwu Ding (Houmuwu Ding)

The heaviest piece of bronze work ever found in the ancient world — a monumental ritual vessel weighing 832.84 kg that required the coordinated effort of hundreds of craftsmen.

National Museum of China

Western Han Dynasty

Jade

Jade Burial Suit of Prince Liu Sheng

An entire suit made of 2,498 jade tiles sewn together with 1,100 grams of gold wire — built to grant immortality to a Han prince.

National Museum of China

Warring States Period

Bronze / Musical Instrument

Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng

A set of 65 bronze bells that, after 2,400 years underground, can still produce music spanning five octaves with perfect tonal accuracy.

Hubei Provincial Museum

Spring and Autumn Period

Weapons

Sword of Goujian

A 2,500-year-old sword found still razor-sharp and untarnished — a testament to ancient Chinese metallurgical genius.

Hubei Provincial Museum

Tang Dynasty

Jade & Gemstone

Beast-Head Agate Cup

An exquisite agate rhyton carved into a bull's head — a masterpiece reflecting the cultural fusion of the Silk Road's golden age.

Shaanxi History Museum

Western Zhou Dynasty

Bronze

Da Ke Ding (Large Ke Tripod)

One of the most important inscribed bronze vessels of the Western Zhou Dynasty, bearing 290 characters that document a key moment in Chinese feudal history.

Shanghai Museum

Qin Dynasty

Sculpture

Terracotta Warriors

An army of over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, each with unique facial features, built to guard China's first emperor in the afterlife.

Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses

Blue-and-White Porcelain Plum Vase (Xiao He Chases Han Xin)

Yuan Dynasty

Ceramics

Blue-and-White Porcelain Plum Vase (Xiao He Chases Han Xin)

The crown jewel of Yuan Dynasty porcelain — a meiping vase depicting the dramatic story of Xiao He's midnight chase to retrieve the brilliant general Han Xin.

Nanjing Museum