Among the bronzeware were vessels inscribed with the name of Fu Hao. Her name is inscribed on an animal-shaped wine goblet standing on two legs with a down-turned tail forming a third leg. There is a removable lid at the back of the head with a miniature bird and dragon forming the knob. The creature is thought to represent an owl.

Other examples of bronzeware are also remarkable. One is a "bronze square Zun carved with four sheep heads." The wine vessel was unearthed in Hunan Province in 1938 and stands more than half a meter tall. It is considered to be the largest square bronze vessel found so far from the Bronze Age, which was between the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, around 1,600-771 B.C.

And who would believe the Chinese were using a bronze vessel as refrigerator more than 2,500 years ago? The bronze vessel sitting in the corner of the gallery hall is said to have been used as a rice wine cooler back in the Warring States Period. The vessel containes a smaller wine vessel inside. Ice was placed in the space around the inner vessel to keep the wine fresh.

The biggest attraction is expected to be the jade burial suit of King Liusheng. Liu was a prince of the West Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.23 ). The burial suit was made of thousands of jade pieces held together with gold thread and clips. It comprises 2,498 pieces of jade, sewn together with threads of 96 percent gold. It took about 1,100 grams of gold to make the thread. It was an ancient Chinese practice to bury nobles with flat jade pieces covering the bodies. People believed the jade would protect the bodies from evil spirits, so the spirits of the dead would guard the living family members.

Nation's Treasure

Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., now through March 18

(Except on Mondays)

Venue: Shenzhen Museum, Section A, the Citizen's Center, Futian District

Admission free