After a hiatus of three and a half years, “National Treasure” Season 4 is finally back. This season continues its collaboration with the Palace Museum, along with the debut of eight new cultural and historical institutions from provinces, municipalities, and special administrative regions, painting a magnificent historical panorama of China's enduring civilization.
The Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum, the Fujian Museum, the Jilin Museum, the Tianjin Museum, the Anhui Museum, the Jiangxi Museum, the Qinghai Museum, and the Palace Museum are all part of this grand endeavor.
1 – Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Highlights: This is not just a museum; it represents a group of distinctive museums. Among them are larger-scale institutions such as the Hong Kong History Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Culture, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, as well as smaller yet exquisite ones like the Tea Utensils Museum and the Sam Tung Uk Museum. They document Hong Kong's transition from a small fishing village to a modern metropolis, preserving its cultural fabric and historical heritage.
2 – Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum
Highlights: The Three Gorges Museum is not solely about the Three Gorges; it encapsulates the essence of Ba-Yu culture, Three Gorges culture, wartime culture, immigrant culture, and the urban culture of Chongqing's roads. Comprising the main venue of the Three Gorges Museum, the Baiheliang Underwater Museum, the Chongqing Song Qingling Memorial Hall, the Tushan Kiln Site, and the Three Gorges Cultural and Technological Conservation Base, it showcases treasures such as the Tiger Seal and the inscriptions at Baiheliang.
3 – Fujian Museum
Highlights: This marks the starting point of Zheng He's voyages to the West and the maritime Silk Road. Within the museum, visitors can explore numerous related artifacts. The Persian peacock blue-glazed pottery is a representative piece from ancient Persia, arriving in China via the maritime Silk Road. Additionally, there are items like the brown-colored silk robe with painted flowers from the Southern Song dynasty and the seated statue of Wen Chang made by He Chaozong from the Dehua Kiln.
4 – Jilin Museum
Highlights: Situated in the heartland of Northeast China, Jilin Province has historically been an important region for gathering various ethnic groups from the Central Plains and its surrounding areas. It was also the birthplace of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army. The Jilin Provincial Museum boasts artifacts from the Goguryeo, Bohai, Liao, and Jin periods, as well as representative ancient calligraphy and paintings.
Notable items include the Han dynasty white jade ear cup, the Khitan octagonal bronze mirror with inscriptions, and the Guan ear vase from the Northern Song dynasty. Additionally, there are numerous calligraphy and paintings, such as Zhang Yu's “Return of Lady Wenji to Han” from the Jin dynasty and “Hundred Flowers” scroll by Yang Jieyu from the Southern Song dynasty.
5 – Tianjin Museum
Highlights: Situated in the important port city of China, Tianjin Museum has withstood the test of tumultuous times and has a history of 108 years. Visitors can explore representative ancient Chinese art and the historical development of Tianjin city here. Permanent exhibitions include “Glorious Treasures” and “The Origin of Tianjin People.” Key exhibits include the Western Zhou dynasty Taibao Ding and the Song dynasty painting “Snow Landscape in Cold Forest” by Fan Kuan.
6 – Anhui Museum
Highlights: Spanning the Huai River, Yangtze River, and Xin'an River, Anhui Museum showcases the distinct Chu and Hui cultures. The old Luyang Pavilion, a building resembling Suzhou-style architecture, and the new Shushan Pavilion, opened in 2011, feature basic displays such as “History of Anhui Civilization” and “Four Treasures of Anhui Study.” Representative artifacts like the Casting Guest Cauldron and the Dragon and Tiger Drum Stand are treasures of the museum.
7 – Jiangxi Museum
Highlights: Some say Jiangxi's current national presence is relatively subdued, but its historical significance is undeniable. From the old museum at Bayi Square to the Xinzhou Road museum and the new museum on Ganjiang North Avenue, each upgrade showcases more Jiangxi stories. Treasures like the Ganjiang Bei and the cultural relics of Liu He, the Marquis of Haihun, are worth a special visit.
8 – Qinghai Museum
Highlights: The diversity of ethnic groups and religious cultures has shaped the diversity and uniqueness of the artifacts here. Visitors can witness the historical changes and diverse regional cultures at the Qinghai Provincial Museum. Permanent exhibitions like the “Qinghai Historical Relics Exhibition” and the “Qinghai Archaeological Achievements Exhibition” feature colorful pottery from the Majiayao culture, as well as bronze gilt statues of Avalokitesvara from the Yongle period and Yongle-style sculptures.
9 – The Palace Museum
Highlights: As the perennial guest of “National Treasure,” the Palace Museum has delivered splendid performances in the first three seasons, especially with the “Thousand-Mile Riverside Scene” and the porcelain made during the Qianlong period. Established on the basis of imperial collections from the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is a large comprehensive ancient art museum. Despite being over 600 years old, every encounter with it evokes a familiar yet strange feeling. What surprises will the Forbidden City bring us in this season?
