Chongqing - To start the new year, the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum announced over 20 special exhibitions, Beginning with the Chinese zodiac culture exhibition featuring snakes, the animal representing the upcoming year. 

The exhibition has been showcasing 115 pieces related to the snake and traditional Spring Festival customs, offering a cultural feast for the public from January 14 to April 27.

The exhibit on the Chinese zodiac culture features snakes. (Photo/Deng Yan)

The exhibit on the Chinese zodiac culture features snakes. (Photo/Deng Yan)

The exhibit on the Chinese zodiac culture features snakes. (Photo/Deng Yan)

"Featuring a diverse collection of artifacts such as bronze wares, pottery, rubbings, textiles, shadow puppets, paper cuttings, New Year prints, and jade items, the display highlights traditional Spring Festival customs," said the curator Du Zhiming.

Mu Fengjing, Director of Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, said, "In 2024, the museum's popularity continues to soar, with 44 exhibitions planned for 2024 and an expected visitor total of over 3.68 million, marking an impressive 65% increase compared to the previous year. This growth, in terms of total number of visitors and the expansion rate, has set a historic record for the museum."

The visitor takes photos of the exhibits. (Photo/Deng Yan)

Then Mu announced the upcoming highlights for the year, including the much-anticipated "Long March of National Treasures: A Commemoration of the Relocation of Palace Museum Artifacts" and "From Dunhuang to Dazu," a comprehensive exploration of China's ancient cave art. The museum will also showcase "Eternal Stone Inscriptions: The Bashu Stele Exhibition," celebrating the rich inscription culture of the Bashu region.

Palace Museum artifacts return to Chongqing after 80 Years

In 2025, nearly 80 years after being relocated to Chongqing during World War II, Palace Museum artifacts will return for the Long March of National Treasures exhibition. Hosted by the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum in collaboration with the Palace Museum, the exhibition will feature over 80 pieces, marking their first return since leaving in 1946.

These treasures were carefully relocated from Beijing to Nanjing and later to Chongqing to avoid destruction by Japanese forces. During the war, the museum held two exhibitions in Chongqing for safekeeping and to showcase these items.

The upcoming exhibition will combine artifacts with historical documents, recounting how these cultural relics survived the war and became symbols of China's enduring civilization.

A journey from Dunhuang to Dazu: The magnificence of cave art

Dunhuang and Dazu are two iconic names in the world of Chinese cave art, and in 2025, the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum will bring them together in an unprecedented exhibition. In collaboration with the Dunhuang Research Institute and the Dazu Rock Carvings Research Institute, the museum will present "From Dunhuang to Dazu." 

The Dazu Rock Carvings. (Photo/Dazu District)

The exhibition, set to open in July, will be the first-ever joint display of these two UNESCO World Heritage sites, offering a unique opportunity to experience the artistic beauty that spans centuries.

The exhibition will provide a comprehensive overview of Chinese cave art, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies will enhance the visitor experience.