Travel Tip: Art and Archaeology in China
Archaeological China

Over 400 precious cultural relics excavated from more than 60 ancient settlements, imperial city ruins, Buddhist temples and imperial tombs will be on display along with numerous photographs, text commentaries and a selection of documentary films on the excavation of a number of archaeological sites across China. The various exhibits will allow visitors to experience the sense of achievement of the past sixty years by hundreds of archaeologists across four generations.

The “Archaeological China” exhibition is divided into eighteen main thematic areas, including : A Witness to Tremendous Change - The transition from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic age; Feasts of Pork and Millet - The rise and development of agriculture and animal husbandry in prehistoric China; Changing Homes - The rise and spread of prehistoric settlements; The Dawn of Civilization - The course of civilization and the unification of a pluralistic China; The Rise of Dynastic China; The Splendour of the Shang Dynasty; The Great Achievements of Rites and Music; The Majesty of the Imperial Capital Cities - The imperial capital cities of China’s feudal dynasties; Tombs of the Underworld - The tombs and mausoleums of the ancient Chinese emperors; Kilns and Furnaces - The production of porcelain; The Flourishing of Buddhism; The Western Regions; The Power of Science and Technology; Moulding Metals and Fashioning Clay - Bronze production techniques of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.

The exhibition also focuses on the latest developments in archaeological research as well as topics which may be of interest to the general public, such as the vestiges of prehistoric earthquake, how the ancients buried their dead and how archaeologists are able to analyze eating patterns and diets in ancient times.

In addition, the exhibition highlights the important role that scientific techniques and equipment plays in modern archaeological research and presents an overview of the applied use of GPS satellites, digital photogrametry, 3D laser scanners, remote sensing and ground-penetrating radar in archaeology.