"I feel like I’ve just come back from history. While the host was explaining the history & some interesting ancient objects I was lost in my imagination & walked through that time," said Mitu from Bangladesh. On August 15, members of the Shanghai Foreigner Storytelling Club and students from six universities in Shanghai were invited to the Shanghai Museum to observe the exhibition entitled “The Making of China: The Civilizations of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties”, and to experience a wonderful journey from modern to ancient Chinese civilization. This is the first of The Essence of China series that includes exhibitions of cultural relics and archaeological achievements.

According to Chen Jie, the deputy director of the Shanghai museum, as an important part of the Great Museum Project, the Shanghai Museum has joined hands with major museums in China to launch "The Making of China" series of archaeological exhibitions to showcase the origins, development and splendid achievements of Chinese civilization by fully exploiting the quality and richness of its collections and the latest archaeological discoveries. The Making of China: the Civilizations of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties displays 217 sets and/or pieces of magnificent objects found in Henan province from 89 archaeological sites, among which 67 sets and/or pieces are first-grade national treasures.

Telling China stories in the language of heritage itself

Along with the explanation, the Chinese and foreign friends all expressed amazement and shock."From the many cultural relics on display in the museum, I feel the diversity and inclusiveness of Chinese culture," said Valeryia Sazanava from Belarus."The exhibits here use time as a clue, and many of them show the context of time, as if they take me to the past."

Wonsook Hong from South Korea said visiting the exhibition made her understand the social life, etiquette system and culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. She said that China has a long history and that cultural relics and bronze relics of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties are very delicate. Through cultural relics, we can learn the life of ancient people and the style of Chinese social civilization at that time.

Communicating China stories to more people

Nusrat Marat, from Australia, visited the museum for the first time since the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai. He said that the visit to the museum was a good way to understand the Chinese people and their culture. Similarly, Bella said that she would recommend her friends to come and see Shanghai and the Shanghai Museum.“Shanghai is a very interesting city and the Shanghai Museum can help you learn about the history. So, I think it’s a very good way to learn history,” Bella said.

Maskay, from Nepal, seemed to be interested in the late Shang Owl-shaped Zun (wine vessel) with the Inscription “Fu Hao”(a female general and wife of King Wuding)."You can see things differently from different angles. It is inconceivable that the Chinese could make such exquisite things more than 3,000 years ago," Maskay said to the people around him, showing the video he had just shot.“These ancient Chinese stories will continue to make their subtleties accessible to more people."

Likewise, Daimon Kazuto, general manager of YKK (China) Investment Co., Ltd., also has a special feeling for the owl-shaped Zun."It's amazing to see these relics that are more than 4,000 years old. I'm going to bring our Japanese employees to see them. We must understand Chinese history to develop in China."

Adachi Ken, a Japanese working in the tourism industry, said that he has visited many historical places in China, but he said it was his first time to see such artifacts."It's very valuable. In particular, the Chinese characters at the entrance are very shocking to the Japanese who also use Chinese characters. I feel that China has a rich history and I want to visit this exhibition again."