[Photo/eastday.com]

An exhibition aiming to showcase ancient Chinese science and technology opened at the Fengxian Museum in Shanghai on June 18.

The exhibition, titled "Crafts of Nature - Essence of Ancient Chinese Science and Technology", is set to run until Oct 18. It showcases 124 individual and group exhibits from over 30 cultural and heritage institutions nationwide. These exhibits span various forms such as paper, silk, bronze ware, ceramics, and architecture.

The exhibition features a diverse array of artifacts, including Shang Dynasty (1600 BC to 1046 BC) pottery, paper made in the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC to AD 8), and the dragon robe of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1638 to 1911).

Zhang Xuesong, director of the Fengxian Museum, said that while public knowledge often focuses on the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China, namely papermaking, gunpowder, the compass, and printing techniques, the country's other technological achievements are as "numerous as stars in the sky and vast as the ocean".

Zhang said the primary aim of the exhibition is to shed light on the development of ancient Chinese technologies, enabling visitors to truly appreciate the technological prowess of ancient China.

Zhang emphasized the wealth of stories that ancient technologies hold and the importance of using artifacts to narrate these tales. Visitors can find answers to questions such as the transformation of pottery into ceramics, the evolution of kilns, the difference between different paper making techniques, and the distinction between bronze wares made through casting or lost-wax methods.

The exhibition area also showcases five pottery pieces from the Panlongcheng Site Museum in Wuhan, Hubei province, all of which date back over 3,000 years. To elevate the experience, visitors can reach into glass enclosures to touch these artifacts for themselves, getting the chance to hold important pieces of history in their hands.

Throughout the exhibition period, more exhibits will add to the display. Visitors can look forward to seeing artifacts such as the Western Han Changxin Palace Lamp, known as the "first lamp of China", which is set to debut in the exhibition hall in August, according to Zhang.

Fengxian Museum

Address: No 333 Hupan Road, Fengxian district

Open hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm, until Oct 18, closed on Mondays, except for public holidays

Source: eastday.com