Among the 100 Chinese museums selected by the TV documentary, some hold unique treasures that are unknown to the outside world.
Museum of Chinese History, Beijing, episode one
First founded in 1912, the state-level museum sits to the east of Tian'anmen Square. Among the 300,000 precious treasures, the stoneware, bronze works and ancient currencies are the most famous. Many of the 230,000 volumes of books stored here are the only copies in the world.
Museum of the Slave Society of the Yi People of Liangshan, Sichuan, episode 10
Located in Xichang of Sichuan Province, the museum opened in August 1985. The over 2,000 items in the museum include tools, daily utensils, weapons, religious instruments, books and other items used by the Yi ethnic group.
Until the 1950s, the Yi ethnic group of the Liangshan region in Sichuan maintained a social system based on slavery.
In the 1980s, Yi scholars found that the 10-month calendar used by the ancient Yi people was actually the official calendar used in China before the Shang Dynasty (BC16th-11th century). The discovery shed new light on ancient Chinese civilization.
Han Dynasty Yangling Tumulus Relics Exhibition Hall, Shaanxi, episode 22
In September 1999, after eight years of continuous excavation, Chinese archaeologists made another great discovery of remnants from the Eastern Han Dynasty (BC206-8AD) in Shaanxi Province, where the terra cotta warriors of the Qin Dynasty (BC221-BC207) were found.
The archaeologists found two giant mausoleums of Emperor Jindi (reigned BC156-141) and his empress. They are surrounded by 90 burial pits and over 5,000 lesser graves. Hundreds of armored female figurines mounted on horses were unearthed.
But the most striking discovery was the colorful statues standing naked and wearing clothes. These discoveries allow people to witness the astonishing achievements of Chinese sculpture before the introduction of Buddhism.
Museum of the Tibet Autonomous Region, episodes 43, 44
The museum opened in Lhasa in October 1999. Among the 40,000 items on display, there are precious archaeological findings, religious items and gifts from the Chinese central government from over the past centuries.
Chinese Tea Museum, Zhejiang, episode 45
The museum opened in the Jinqingshan Tea Garden in Hangzhou in 1991. The tea garden is one of the original sources of the famous Longjin Tea. The museum tells the history of tea with articles about tea and its related activities, as well as ancient utensils used for preparing tea.
Suzhou Silk Museum, Jiangsu, episode 72
Opened in 1991, the museum records the history of silk in China with 39 ancient looms, silk pieces and clothing from the Western Han Dynasty.
Museum of Prehistory and Museum of History, Taiwan, episode 101
Taiwan was originally contiguous to the mainland. It became an island only after a long period of geological movements and changes in the sea level.
The two museums provide visitors with traces of the earliest men living on the island, about 30,000 years ago. In the 1650s, the first group of immigrants from southern Fujian and Hakka people came across the Straits.
(China Daily 06/06/2001)
