Chongqing - China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing showcases 192 cultural relics of Zhongshan State to reveal its unique and mysterious history, which opens to the public for free from February 15 to May 7.

Rhinoceros screen holder made of gold, silver, and copper. (Photo/ China Three Gorges Museum)

In the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), Zhongshan was one of the twelve powerful states that possessed more than 1,000 chariots. For more than 2,000 years, due to the lack of historical records, cultural relics have been buried underground, and the Zhongshan State is rarely known.

Until the 1970s, archaeologists excavated the royal tombs of Zhongshan State in Sanji Village, Pingshan County, Hebei Province. Tens of thousands of bronze wares, gold and silver wares, jade wares, lacquer wares, and other cultural relics were unearthed. 

The royal tombs of Zhongshan State in Sanji Village, Pingshan County, Hebei Province. (Photo/ China Three Gorges Museum)

This exhibition starts with archaeological discoveries, combined with unearthed cultural relics and related documents, aiming to tell the story of Zhongshan State's founding to its destruction.

Double-winged divine beast made of silver and copper. (Photo/ China Three Gorges Museum)

Visitors can appreciate the style of this ancient state with themes ranging from history, culture, and warfare. Additionally, there are also various royal treasures encompassing bronze ware, pottery, jade stone, and ornamentations, demonstrating its magnificent artistic achievements. 

One exhibit called Zici round copper pot has Zhongshan characters on it. (Photo/ Deng Yan)

(He Hanyue, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)