This dragon sculpture of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) is made of gilded bronze with an iron core. Its torso is s-shaped, its neck arched, and its head held high. Its mouth is wide open, revealing sharp fangs. Sculptures of flying dragon are extremely rare among forged metal artifacts of the Tang Dynasty.

(Cover: A Tang-dynasty gilded bronze dragon with an iron core currently on display at Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN)