China National Arts and Crafts Museum: China's first national arts and crafts museum

The China National Arts and Crafts Museum and the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum opened on February 5, 2022 (the Beijing Winter Olympics opened on February 4, 2022). As a new cultural landmark, the museum houses the finest contemporary Chinese arts and crafts and intangible cultural heritage treasures. The most prominent are the "Four National Treasures"—four large jade masterpieces: the mountain-shaped artwork *Daiyue Qiguan* (Spectacular View of Mount Tai), the flower censer *Hanxiang Juru* (Auspicious Gathering of Fragrance), the table screen *Sihai Tenghuan* (Joy Across the Four Seas), and the flower basket *Qunfang Lansheng* (Victory of All Flowers) (Figures 1-4). From theme selection and design to completion, these four pieces took eight years to create. A team of over 40 master craftsmen collaborated with dozens of experts and scholars, using precious materials and exquisite craftsmanship to create these national treasures. Other exhibits are also gems of Chinese art, including jade carvings (Figure 6: White Jade Five Elements Pagoda, 7: Hetian Black Jade Carving - Six-Armed Mahakala, 8: Red Coral - Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum), ivory carvings (9: Abundant Harvest Cabbage, 10: Detail of Abundant Harvest Cabbage; 11: Double Phoenix Facing the Sun Flower Boat), horn carvings (12: Spring Tide), embroidery (13: Chaozhou Embroidery Screen - Prosperous Dragon, 14: Opera Costumes), ceramics (15: Elegant Perforated Vase), lacquerware (16: Bodiless Lacquerware - Green Treasure Sand Gallbladder Vase), ethnic crafts (17: Painted Copper Statue - God of Wealth, 18: Eight Treasures Ruyi Vase), cloisonné (19: Peacock Screen Lamp), and more. The China National Arts and Crafts Museum is free and open to the public. Address: No. 16, Hujing East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Opening hours: 9:00-17:00.