Exhibition sheds light on artifacts from Three Gorges

An exhibition featuring 361 artifacts excavated from the Three Gorges region has opened at Nanshan Museum, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Yangtze River area.

Jointly organized by Nanshan Museum, Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum (Chongqing Museum), and Chongqing Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, the exhibition presents bronze wares, iron objects, pottery, porcelain, and paleontological fossils spanning multiple historical periods.

Relics on display at the exhibition. Photos courtesy of Nanshan Museum

The story behind the artifacts is as compelling as the pieces themselves. In the 1990s, when the Three Gorges Dam project began, many ancient relics along the Yangtze River were at risk of being submerged by the rising waters of the reservoir. This led to one of the largest cultural relic rescue operations in China’s history.

Thousands of cultural relic workers from more than 100 research institutions and universities across the country rushed to excavate and preserve artifacts before they were lost beneath the river. The effort, which lasted over a decade and covered Chongqing and Hubei, not only saved tens of thousands of precious relics, but also reshaped academic understanding of the upper Yangtze’s ancient civilizations. After nearly 20 years of painstaking work, a clearer chronological framework for the Three Gorges cultural sequence has emerged.

Relics on display at the exhibition.

The exhibition traces the full journey of these rescued treasures — from urgent excavations by archaeologists to the careful work of conservators, and finally to their renewed life on public display. Using both traditional craftsmanship and advanced technology, conservators have restored damaged relics, while innovative curatorial methods bring their stories to a modern audience.

More than a celebration of objects, the exhibition pays tribute to generations of experts whose expertise and dedication ensure that the cultural legacy of the Three Gorges endures for generations to come.

Dates: Through Oct. 25

Venue: Nanshan Museum, Nanshan District (南山博物馆)

Metro: Line 12 to Nantou Ancient City Station (南头古城站), Exit E4