Ma'anshan Museum | Jinling Barrier, Jiankang Key

Ma'anshan was part of the State of Wu during the Western Zhou Dynasty, and later became part of the State of Yue and the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Legend has it that after Xiang Yu committed suicide, his horse, Wuzhui, missed its master so much that it rolled over and killed itself, and its saddle turned into a mountain, hence the name Ma'anshan (literally "horse saddle mountain"). Ma'anshan spans the Yangtze River and has been known as the "Jinling Barrier, Jiankang Key" since ancient times. As a national second-class museum, Ma'anshan Museum houses more than 10,000 cultural relics, with the Six Dynasties celadon being the most representative. The permanent exhibition "The Green Water Flows Eastward to This Point - Ma'anshan History and Culture Exhibition" is divided into five sections: Dawn of Civilization, Six Dynasties Capital, Land of Outstanding People, City of Landscape Poetry, and Modern Civilization, which clearly outline the development of Ma'anshan's cultural history. The museum's treasure is the Shang Dynasty bronze naoyao with cloud and thunder patterns, a special ritual vessel used by ancient people to worship the gods of the Yangtze River. This bronze naoyao is large and heavy, with exquisite and intricate patterns, and is the only bronze naoyao with full interior and exterior decoration found in China, with extremely precious historical and artistic value. The Six Dynasties celadon, represented by the Three Kingdoms Wu celadon chicken-head pot with string patterns, is the most distinctive feature of the museum's collection and plays an irreplaceable role in the study of the Six Dynasties ceramic culture in Anhui. ❤ The museum's treasure - the Shang Dynasty bronze naoyao with cloud and thunder patterns, 52.5 cm high and 54 kg in weight, was unearthed in Ma'anshan Economic Development Zone in 2003. The naoyao, a hand-held bell, is one of the bronze percussion instruments used in ancient China, originally used to transmit orders in the army. In addition to the full decoration on the outer wall, the naoyao is also engraved with regular cloud patterns inside. This is the only bronze naoyao with full interior and exterior decoration found in China. The overall style of this naoyao is majestic and grand, with exquisite craftsmanship, reflecting the highest level of bronze casting technology in the Spring and Autumn period. ❤ Ma'anshan has a long history and a splendid culture. The history of Ma'anshan can be traced back to the "Hexian Man" in the most ancient times, and the "Lingjiatan Culture" of the Neolithic Age is one of the important origins of Chinese civilization. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, Ma'anshan became the capital of the ancient city of Nanjing. ❤ The museum is divided into five exhibition halls from ancient times to modern times, providing a direct understanding of the development of civilization in Ma'anshan. ❤ Stamps are available in the museum. When I visited, there was an event where you could get a stamp by posting on social media, at the service center on the first floor. I went late, so there were not many people, and no reservation was needed. ❤ There is also a painting exhibition of the museum's exhibits on the first floor, which is very good. ❤ The special exhibition is a Guang embroidery exhibition "Ten Thousand Threads of Gold". Address: Ma'anshan Museum is located at No. 2006-1, Taibai Avenue, Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province, in the Cultural Center of Ma'anshan Municipal Park. Tickets: Free admission. Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:00). Closed on Mondays, open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, with two free guided tours per day at 10:00 am and 14:30 pm. Transportation: Bus No. 106, 127, and 202 go directly to the museum.