On December 26, 2025, the "Encountering King Kaolie: Archaeological Discoveries from the No. 1 Tomb of the Wuwangdun Site in Huainan, Anhui Province" co-organized by the National Museum of China and the People's Government of Anhui Province opened at the National Museum of China. The special exhibition will last for four months. The display of 215 sets of precious cultural relics fully demonstrates the pivotal role of Chu culture in the development of Chinese civilization, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the unique charm of archaeology with Chinese characteristics, style, and ethos.

Stepping into the National Museum is like entering a corridor of time.

Tomb No.1 at Wuwangdun is the mausoleum of Xiong Yuan, King Kaolie of the Chu state during the Eastern Zhou period. The No. 1 Tomb of the Wuwangdun Site is the largest in scale, highest level and most complex Chu structure ever scientifically excavated to date.

From 2020 to 2024, through systematic and comprehensive excavation work, archaeologists unearthed over ten thousand precious artifacts from the late Warring States period of the Chu state. These findings fill numerous research gaps in the study of Chu culture, set multiple archaeological firsts in China's history, and earned the site a place among the Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries of China in 2024.

Stepping into the exhibition hall is like opening a gateway to the ancient Chu state, instantly immersing visitors in a profound historical atmosphere. The artifacts displayed in the cases are not merely objects—they are witnesses to history, each groove and pattern carved with the marks of time.

This exhibition is a meticulously curated showcase by the National Museum of China. It marks the first time cultural relics from Anhui Province have been featured in a special exhibition at the museum. Through prior communication with the Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the National Museum's curatorial team selected representative excavated artifacts from the Wuwangdun site that have attracted significant attention, offering a comprehensive presentation of the rich historical information embedded in Tomb No. 1 at Wuwangdun.

Cultural relics serve as bridges of communication and messengers of cultural dissemination. By bringing the Wuwangdun special exhibition to the National Museum of China, these artifacts are not only showcased to the public but also transformed into a cultural feast that promotes the dynamic utilization of relics and the enduring transmission of civilization.

Source: Anhui Daily