Search

THIS WEEKChinese cultural objects on display at the Chinese Consulate General in New York City on April 17, after the U.S. returned 38 such objects to China at a ceremony held there earlier that day.In January 2009, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding intended to prevent the illegal importation of Chinese cultural artifacts into the U.S. Its validity has been extended for the third time, starting from January 14 this year.PHOTO (COLOR) [Extracted from the article]

At the end of the series Escape From the British Museum, the teapot woman returns to the British Museum. "No Chinese person can walk out of the British Museum with a smiling face" - this popular saying in China reflects the complicated feeling of Chinese visiting the museum, as many of the Chinese items displayed there have never been seen in China. Seven ancient marble columns, after leaving China for over a century, finally returned to their original home, the Old Summer Palace or Yuanmingyuan in Beijing. [Extracted from the article]

CULTURE One of China's 10 most famous paintings, Bunian Tu, is currently on show at an exhibition in the Palace Museum, China's imperial palace from 1420 to 1911, in Beijing. Visitors at Auspicious Beginnings: Joint Exhibition of Artifacts From the Palace Museum and Tibet, in Beijing on April 29 2. The three-month exhibition highlights Tibet's close relations with the central authorities in ancient times. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the archaeological excavation of relics on board the Nan'ao I, a merchant ship of the late Ming Dynasty, which sunk 27 meters below the surface in waters of Nan'ao Island in Shantou, Guangdong Province in south China. About 4,000 pieces of porcelain items have been salvaged, most of them intact since the excavation started on May 10, 2010. Also included in the discovery were a small number of glazed pottery jars and copper plates. According to experts, the ship's destination could not be ascertained.

The article discusses the rescue operation held for the cultural relics in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province which was hit by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on April 14, 2010. Within the prefecture are the Gyana Mani Stone Mound, a Kham culture museum, and many Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and stupas, such as the Thrangu Monastery which contains a huge collection of Buddhist scriptures. The damaged relics have been rescued by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Discusses the protection of China's cultural relics. Maintenance of ancient structures; Financial issues; Cultural sites under state protection; Renovation projects; Preservation of major ruins; Public awareness programs.

The article discusses the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) trade show that was held at the Han-Cultural Museum of Hepu County in Beihai, China on September 12-15, 2018.

Focuses on the excavation in the Three Gorges Dam in Yangtze River, China. Presence of valuable relics and fossils of ancient life forms; Construction of the China Three Gorges Museum; Budget allocation on the preservation of cultural relics.

Focuses on the efforts of the Beijing Xicheng Cultural Relics Preservation Bureau to renovate Beijing, China's historical relics. Efforts to maintain traditional appearance of the relics; Renovation of streets and residential blocks in the area; Protection and restoration efforts.

Reports on endeavors by relic workers to protect cultural relics and historical sites in Beijing, China in light of large-scale economic construction and demolition. Designation of `underground relic areas'; Repair of ancient buildings; Museums; Relics auction.

The article presents information on the national survey of cultural relics being undertaken by the Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heritage which will encompass possessions of state organs, public service units, and state-owned enterprises.

The article examines China's efforts to protect cultural relics as public museums become more open to free public viewing. The Chinese government invested 4.86 billion yuan in 2009 to ensure the protection of cultural relics, and added 2 billion yuan as subsidy for key museums and memorials that offer free admission. Despite government support, curators relate that there is more pressure on them to ensure the protection of museum items from external factors like temperature, humidity, radiation, and air pollution.

An interview with Fudan University professor Chen Chun is presented. When asked to share his insights on how China can reclaim its cultural relics, Chen replies that the 150th anniversary of the destruction of the Old Summer Palace provides an opportunity to prevent the further loss or theft of cultural relics. He cites that traffickers, speculative collectors, and foreign auction houses have been the biggest beneficiaries of auctions of stolen Chinese relics. Chen asserts the importance of being vigilant and protesting the trade of stolen relics.

The article discusses the increasing popularity of collecting in China. It cites several reasons why people are drawn into collecting antique items. According to the article, a national cultural relics appraisal committee in the country only appraised cultural relics unearthed or collected by the government. It notes that the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau had approved four private museums to be established, as of 1996.

The article deals with the discovery of an ancient relic in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on August 7, 2008. It was found inside an iron box discovered in an underground palace located in the ruins of the Dabaoen Temple. It is the first relic unearthed in the country that was clearly mentioned in a stele buried together with it.

The article reports that a wreck, which have been buried underwater for 800 years, was raised from the seabed of the South China Sea on December 22, 2007. It is stated that majority of the relics on the ship named Nanhai I are porcelains of over 30 varieties, and most of them are well preserved. It is inferred that the ship provides typical sample of ship building skills in the Song Dynasty and the preservation of wooden relics. The ship is stored in a newly built glass museum, in an artificial environment similar to the one that it was hauled from.

This article provides information on the significant archeological discoveries in China in 2005. The selection, which is based on their historical, scientific and aesthetic values, includes the Xiaohuangshan relics in Zhejiang Province the Gaomiao Temple Site in Hongjiang and the Hengshui tomb site in Hengshui Town in Shanxi Province.

This article presents an interview with Niu Xianfeng, Vice Secretary General of the Chinese Fund for the Recovery of Overseas Relics in China, regarding the organized overseas treasure hunting activity. According to Xianfeng, the initiative was driven with the growing interest in collecting relics associated with the improvement in economic condition. He added that such activity was designed to explore a way to establish a model for purchasing lost relics.

Delves into the China Cultural Relics Program, a large-scale program to reclaim Chinese cultural relics scattered around the world. Emphasis on searching items that were stolen, excavated or looted and trafficked abroad; Utility of purchasing, donation and reclaiming through judicial process; Figures representing the rate of cultural relics held by foreign museums in different countries. INSETS: Country Statistics.;Return of National Treasures..

Reports on the return of stolen Chinese relics and artifacts to China. Looters' decision to return the relics; China' filing of lawsuit against the looters; China's acquisition of the relics; International rules governing theft of relics and similar objects.

Reports the examination of the relics believed to left by extraterrestrial beings by nine Chinese scientists in Qinghai Province, China. Investigation of the mysterious site in Baigongshan mountain; Appearance of the relic; Description of the items found inside the cave.

Reports the signing of relocation agreement by Liu Miqin with the Cultural Relics Bureau of the Xicheng District of Beijing, China. Location of the Altar to the God of Agriculture; Funds for conservation of cultural relics; Campaign for cultural relic conservation.

Reports the excavation of a large ancient tomb in Shenzhen, China. Discovery of valuable relics dating back to the shang dynasty; Excavation of the construction sites of Shenzhen university city in Fuguang Village; Age of the tombs.

Reports on the decision of China officials to improve the management and protection of historical relics. Application of sites for the World Heritage List; Construction of a protection monitoring system; Necessity of a comprehensive management system.

Features several ancient temples, tombs and places in China which became part of ancient Mongol militarist and statesman Genghis Khan's territorial expansion during the thirteenth century. Includes the Genghis Khan Mausoleum; Mancheng Han Tombs in Hebei; Liao Tombs in Xinhua; Beijing Baiyun Temple; Hebei Ancient Lotus Pond and Shanxi Huayan Temple; Cultural relics.

Reports on the progress in research on the culture of the Tujue people, a powerful tribal group which formed a minority state in ancient China. Tujue relics discovered by archaeologists since the 1980s; Tujue crafts as a combination of Chinese decorative and Western art forms; Square tombs discovered; Description of stone statues and rock paintings; Special books on the history and culture of the Tujue.

The article discusses a photo exhibit commemorating the 60th anniversary of Tibet's liberation by China at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing from June 15 to July 8, 2011. It states that over 500 pictures, 30 relics and video clips, as well as documents and others, are on display. It reports that some of the guides at the exhibit are themselves Tibetan, who show how much development and prosperity the people of Tibet enjoy since their reunification with China. The reactions of several attendees are cited, who marvel at the changes since.

The article focuses on the improvement in underwater archaeology in China since the 1990s. About 4,000 relics have been salvaged by Chinese archaeologists from the merchant vessel Nan'ao I, the only sunken ship discovered by China dating back to the Ming Dynasty in 1368-1644. A brief history of the country's sea trade in the exportation of silk and porcelain is presented. The significance of the excavation of Nan'ao I is explained.

The article describes the Footprint Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in China. Chen Xiejun, curator of the Shanghai Museum, explained that the main feature of the pavilion is the use of diverse cultural relics to showcase birth and development of cities. The treasures inside the pavilion are placed in a tailor-made, high-technology display case to control the temperature and humidity. These include palace items from Green Vault museum and glass ware and enamel paintings from Dresden State Art Collections.

The author discusses the importance of reclaiming important national relics from foreign collectors. He notes that a large number of Chinese cultural relics have been lost to looting or sold to other countries with more than 10 million artifacts and art pieces housed in foreign countries. The China Poly Group Corp. was able to reclaim three 140-year-old bronze animal statues for a large sum of money in 2000. Some people contend that Chinese relics are part of the world's heritage regardless of who owns them.

This article explores the transfer of Chinese cultural relics from the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, to Taipei, Taiwan, in 1948 and 1949. The relics were transferred from different places during World War II. The Kuomintang government decided to transfer the relics from Nanjing to Taiwan when the civil war emerged. The National Palace Museum was established in Taipei to house the collections.

The article reports on the refusal of Chinese art collector Cai Mingchao to pay for looted Chinese relics. Cai, who runs his own auction house in Xiamen, China, is also a senior advisor to the National Treasures Fund, which helps retrieve looted Chinese relics from abroad. He said he refused to pay for two bronze animal heads that were auctioned off at Christie's in Paris, France, because the bronzes were once part of a fountain that displayed 12 animal sculptures at the imperial winter resort, Yuanmingyuan, of the Qing dynasty.

The author cites some fundamental reasons for a possible cultural downfall in China. It is stated that traditional cultural relics are now in poor condition like the Qiang culture which is facing a possible extinction because of limited oral transfer. The author also urges the people of China to not to stay indifferent towards traditional culture protection and help to preserve the cultural relics.

The article features the city of Suzhou in China. Suzhou is known for its rich cultural relics and a variety of scenic spots. With a mild climate, the city is historically famed as a Heaven on Earth for it abounds in water and fertile soil. The city lies in the center of the Yangtze Delta bordering Zhejiang Province.

Focuses on the preservation of historical relics and trade of artifacts in China. Concern about the commercial exploitation of cultural sites at the expense of causing them permanent damage; Prohibition of illegal trafficking of cultural relics; Efforts of the Chinese government to preserve its cultural heritage.

Reports that China and the American Planning Association have signed a memorandum on cooperation in cultural heritage preservation in city planning. Exchanging of information on cultural relics and heritage preservation; Cooperation in research and demonstration programs.

Presents a photograph depicting a local oblatory ceremony of the "sarira" of Buddha, believed to be a bone section of Buddha's finger and cultural relics from Famen Temple in Saanxi Province, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Reports that the Administration of Customs of Tianjin hands over smuggled cultural relics to the Cultural Heritage Administration of Tianjin. State-protected relics.

Reports on the completion of the excavation work at the Zhongba Ruins in Zhongxian County, China. Number of artifacts unearthed; Cultural relics explored by the Sichuan Institute of Artifacts and Archaeology; Use of the excavated artifacts in studying different periods.

Features the cultural relic album 'Nude Art of the Qiuci Grottoes,' republished by the China Photographic House in China. Artistic style of the body wall painting in the Quici Buddhist Grottoes; Characteristics of religion and common customs; Collection of the achievements of Xinjiang Museum.

Focuses on the cultural relic sites of Shanxi, China. Number of ancient architecture in the province; Number of cultural units in the area under provincial protection.

Reports the adoption of regulations for the protection of Dongba Culture in Yunnan Province, China. Role of the Standing Committee of the Ninth People's Congress on the move; Emergence of fake cultural products in the market; Stipulations on the collections of cultural relics.

Reports the discovery of several ancient tombs in Nyima County, Tibet. Excavation of the stone coffins; Recognition of the ancient tombs as an early relic; Significance of the discovery on the history and culture of Tibet.

Reports on the plans of the city of Beijing in China to build a Ming Dynasty Wall Park based on the last remaining part of the ancient city wall, from Dongbianmen to Chongwenmen. Political and historical importance of the city wall; Width and height; Inclusion of a southern park in the plans.

Reports on the continuation of the program to protect local cultural relics in Beijing, China. Amount invested in the program; Use of the money; Opening of old sites to tourists after renovations.

Reports on the unearthing of 2,000 relics by archaeologists during an emergency campaign to save them in the Three Gorges Dam Project in the Yangtze River in China. Number of sites excavated.

Focuses on the recovery of four Chinese relics looted from the Yuanmingyuan region in Beijing, China in 1860. Auction of the relics in Hong Kong, China; Prices of the relics; Protests by Chinese relics experts and Hong Kong residents; Legal concerns over relics protection measures; Loopholes in Hong Kong's relevant laws.

Reports the project of Tibetan archaeologist to rescue and sort out the cultural relics in Ngari, Tibet in 1998. Details on the rescue project; Relics discovered in the site.

Provides information on the cultural relics at the Sagya Monastery in Tibet, China. Geographical location of the monastery; Scriptures and rare relics stored in the place; Features of the monastery.