Treasures at the Shaanxi History Museum reveal historical marvels

Popular cultural and historical attractions in Shaanxi Province were in high demand during the Spring Festival holiday, with sold-out tickets the norm. According to the latest data from the Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, more than 7.3 million visitors were received across the province, with the Shaanxi History Museum, known as the "Pearl of the Ancient Capital and the Treasure House of China," welcoming around 125,000 visitors during the holiday.

In the Year of the Dragon, among the numerous national treasures, the gilded iron-core bronze dragon undoubtedly shined as the star exhibit at the Shaanxi History Museum.

The "S"-shaped dragon, with its flying mane, bright shining eyes and tail curled up toward its head, presents a majestic yet graceful posture as if descending from the sky. The exquisite craftsmanship shows the dragon's open mouth revealing a curled tongue, well-defined claws firmly gripping the ground, and even two auspicious clouds adorning its body.

"The gilded iron-core bronze dragon was unearthed in 1975 at Caochangpo in the southern suburbs of Xi'an," said Xu Dawei, a guide at the Shaanxi History Museum. "The artifact represents the bold and extravagant aesthetic style and superb craftsmanship of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)."

If artifacts could talk, the tricolored ceramic camel figurine housed in the Shaanxi History Museum would surely play the most enchanting melodies of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty.

The figurine, made of tricolored glazed pottery from the flourishing Tang Dynasty, stands at a height of 58 centimeters. The camel stands tall, with the saddle on its back adorned with rhombus-patterned blankets. There are seven musicians and one female singer on the saddle. The musicians sit cross-legged playing their instruments, while the singer stands among them, gracefully dancing and singing with outstretched arms.

These artifacts, with their unique shapes, large scale, rich expressions, lifelike images, exquisite ceramic craftsmanship, and vivid colors, provide valuable material for the study of Tang Dynasty sculpture, music, and dance through their lifelike portrayal of characters.

The Shaanxi History Museum has about 1.7 million items and sets in its collection, including 762 items or sets of first-class cultural relics, and 18 items or sets of national treasures, including two items that belong to the first batch of cultural relics that are prohibited from being exhibited abroad.