Ningbo｜Jijin Wanli—Special Exhibition on Bronze Civilization in Southwest China

In Ningbo, a port city famous for the "Maritime Silk Road," a dialogue across regions and time is unfolding. "Jijin Wanli—Special Exhibition on Bronze Civilization in Southwest China" brings the mysterious ancient Shu civilization, Dian culture, and other bronze treasures from the southwest to the shores of the East China Sea. These bronze artifacts, dormant for three thousand years, carry the smoke of the Bashu land and the starlight of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, colliding with Ningbo’s millennia-old maritime civilization to create a unique spark. 🏺 Exhibition Highlights at a Glance 1️⃣ Ancient Shu Civilization • This exhibition features 18 artifacts from the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, Sichuan, including bronze human heads and masks, bronze eye-shaped objects, copper eyeballs, pottery bird-head spoon handles, fish-shaped gold foil decorations, jade artifacts, mainly reflecting the beliefs and worship of the ancient Shu Kingdom. • The exhibition also includes 39 artifacts from the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, such as exquisitely crafted gold foil decorations, copper wall plaques with collars, jade zhangs, and practical weapons from the Spring and Autumn to the Warring States periods. 2️⃣ Bronze Culture in Yunnan The bronze culture in Yunnan emerged around the Xia and Shang dynasties and reached its peak during the Western Han dynasty, with the most concentrated archaeological finds in central Dian areas. "The great affairs of the state lie in worship and warfare"—this exhibition displays numerous bronze artifacts unearthed from sites like Shizhaishan in Jinning and Lijiashan in Jiangchuan, mainly including copper swords, copper spears, copper ge weapons, and typical bronze shell storage vessels from Yunnan. 3️⃣ Bronze Artifacts from Guizhou and Guangxi The bronze artifacts unearthed in the Qian-Gui region adjacent to Yunnan show distinct regional characteristics and reflect influences from Central Plains, Bashu, Dian, Chu, and Nanyue cultures. The exhibition features several important bronze artifacts from Guizhou dating to the Warring States and Qin-Han periods—curved-blade weapons—and unique Guangxi items such as the ram-horn knob bells, all key cultural relics with strong regional features. 📍 Exhibition Venue: Ningbo Museum, 1st Floor East Special Exhibition Hall (No. 1000 Shounan Middle Road, Yinzhou District, Ningbo) ⏰ Exhibition Dates: July 22, 2025 – October 19, 2025 Extended opening from July 5 to August 31, open 9:00–21:00 (last entry at 20:00), closed every Monday as usual, no extended opening on Fridays (closes at 17:00) 🎫 Tickets 1. Adult Ticket: 60 RMB [Valid throughout the exhibition period, subject to the booked date] 2. Discount Ticket: 30 RMB 3. Free Admission: 0 RMB [1. Children aged 6 and under (must be accompanied by a guardian with a ticket) and seniors aged 70 and above with valid ID are admitted free. 2. Disabled persons (disability certificate), active military personnel (officer ID), police officers (police ID), firefighters (firefighter ID), retired cadres (honorary certificate), families of martyrs in Zhejiang Province / families of military personnel who died in service / families of deceased military personnel (preferential certificate), teachers with 30 years of service in Zhejiang Province, and holders of honorary certificates for voluntary blood donation in Zhejiang Province can enter free with valid original certificates.] 📝 Tips: 1. Free guided tours are available at 09:30, 10:30, 14:30, and 15:30; meeting point: start of the exhibition hall (signposted) 2. The exhibition includes a VR experience area based on the Sanxingdui site, offering an immersive scene restoration that allows visitors to "travel through" the ancient Shu Kingdom, watch solemn and mysterious sacrificial ceremonies, closely observe details of bronze masks and other artifacts, and directly experience the charm of Sanxingdui. 3. At the entrance, there are cultural and creative products developed for this exhibition as well as popular items from various museums in Southwest China, including limited-edition exhibition stamps, beloved fridge magnets, a variety of stationery, and colorful toys suitable for children.