Traveling to Hebei in summer, you must check in at this national first-class museum

✅ I have shared with you the city of Handan before, which has a civilization history of over 8,000 years and a city-building history of more than 3,100 years. It was once the ancient capital of six dynasties: Cao Wei, Later Zhao, Ran Wei, Former Yan, Eastern Wei, and Northern Qi. ✅ Today, I want to share with you the most treasured museum in Handan - the Handan City Museum. Before the announcement of the fifth batch of national first-class museums, Handan Museum was one of the few national first-class museums in Hebei, naturally having its unique features. ✅ Although the museum's collection holds only 9,627 pieces, the precious cultural relics reach 252 pieces. It can be said that such a high proportion of precious cultural relics is an important factor for the Handan Museum to be promoted to a national first-class museum. ✅ In the four permanent exhibitions - 'Gandan Style - Handan Historical and Cultural Exhibition', 'Handan Ancient Stone Carving Art Exhibition', 'The World of Coins - Chinese Coins Exhibition through Dynasties', and 'Cizhou Kiln Porcelain Exhibition', there are unique cultural relics. Let's take a look together below. 👉🏻 The 1st relic: Warring States Bronze Horse This is a group of relics from the Warring States period, which is 400 years earlier than the Han Dynasty horse stepping on a flying swallow unearthed in Wuwei. It is also the earliest realistic style bronze horse discovered in China, known as a 'national treasure'. Upon closer inspection, the three bronze horses have different postures, whether walking with their heads raised, standing with their heads lowered, or foraging with their heads down, and their bodies and limbs are well-developed, suggesting they are likely modeled after adult Mongolian warhorses. 👉🏻 The 2nd relic: Tang Dynasty Red Sandstone Laughing Maitreya Head Although the relic is not of the highest grade, its unique shape has made it one of the most favorite relics among netizens in the Handan Museum. If you look closely at this Maitreya, it has a smiling face with two deep dimples on its cheeks. From a 360-degree view, you can see his smiling expression, which is why netizens also call it the 'Handan Smile'. 👉🏻 The 3rd relic: Eastern Han Gold and Silver Coated Chariot-Shaped Wine Vessel and Tray According to the inscription on this object: 'In the twenty-third year of Jianwu, made by the western workshop of Shu County.' It can be understood that this gold wine vessel is a famous official creation of the Han Dynasty - the masterpiece of the 'western workshop of Shu County'. The wine vessel is carved with scenes of birds, animals, running deer, feathered men, and the Queen Mother of the West, and the base is inlaid with agate, turquoise, etc., showing it is very expensive. Such wine vessels are rare in China, and another one is kept in the Palace Museum. 👉🏻 The 4th relic: Openwork Kui Dragon Pattern Gold Ornament It is the symbol of the Handan Museum. The entire object is made of gold. Upon closer inspection, you can also see the grassland-style cloud patterns and the symmetrical openwork Kui dragons, which indicate the integration of Central Plains culture and grassland culture at that time. 👉🏻 The 5th relic: Warring States Copper Gilt Inlaid Jade Three-Dragon Ornament This object is a sword pommel from the Warring States period. This gilt bronze and jade inlaid dragon sword pommel can be said to symbolize the ritual status of the time. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the design is beautiful, also showing us the highly developed casting industry and jade craftsmanship of the Zhao state during the Warring States period. Other must-see relics: Northern Dynasties Wan Zhangling tomb pottery figurines, red agate belt hooks, Han Dynasty celestial deer iron, stone-carved attendant Bodhisattva statues, tomb-guarding beasts from the Sui and Tang dynasties, etc. ✅ Travel Tips: 🚌 How to get there: Take bus 4/21 at Handan East Station and get off at Longhu Park Station