标本室

Did the Yuanmou Man ever imagine their legacy would be housed in a building as grand as this? Here we stand before the 標本室, a part of the magnificent National Museum of China. This colossal structure dominates the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It boasts over 1.4 million items in its collection and an astounding 48 exhibition halls. The National Museum of China is the largest single-building museum in the world. It houses an incredible range of Chinese artifacts, showcasing the country’s vast history and culture. The museum’s history is almost as compelling as its collection. Formed in 2003, it represents a merger of the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the National Museum of Chinese History. Both museums had shared the same building since 1959. The current building itself is a historical artifact. Completed in 1959, it’s one of the Ten Great Buildings commemorating the tenth anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Imagine the celebrations that must have surrounded its opening! Inside the 標本室 within the National Museum of China, you’ll find relics spanning from the Yuanmou Man, who lived 1.7 million years ago, to the final days of the Qing dynasty. Among these treasures are the Houmuwu Ding, the heaviest piece of ancient bronzeware ever discovered. You can also marvel at the intricate jade burial suits sewn with gold thread from the Han dynasty. The collection boasts stunning Tang dynasty tri-colored glazed sancai and an array of Song dynasty ceramics. It’s a journey through time, preserved within these walls. The National Museum of China also holds a unique place in recent political history. In 2012, President Xi Jinping visited the “Road to Rejuvenation” exhibit. Here, he first publicly articulated the concept of the “Chinese Dream,” a vision of national rejuvenation. The 標本室, as a part of this grand museum, offers a captivating glimpse into China’s rich past and its aspirations for the future.