On September 15th, the Chinese Archaeological Museum officially opened to the general public. Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and secretary of the leading Party members’ group at CASS, as well as director of the Chinese Academy of History (CAH) under CASS and secretary of the Party Committee of the CAH, personally welcomed the first group of visitors to the museum.

Gao Xiang presents souvenirs to the representatives of the first group of visitors. Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

Gao Xiang takes a group photo with the representatives of the first group of visitors. Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

Gao Xiang walks into the Chinese Archaeological Museum with the first group of visitors. Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

As the first national professional museum in China with the word "archaeology" in its name, the Chinese Archaeological Museum was established by the CAH under the care of the Party and state leaders. On June 2nd this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the CAH, toured the Chinese Archaeological Museum, and attended a symposium on cultural inheritance and development. He also delivered an important speech, in which he emphasized the important role of archaeology in understanding the long history of Chinese civilization and appreciating the richness and profoundness of Chinese culture .

Situated in the core area of the Beijing Olympic Park, the Chinese Archaeological Museum integrates exhibitions, collections, preservation, academic research and education. Its primary goal is to showcase the exquisite unearthed cultural relics and precious ancient books and documents collected by the CAH. The museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, telling the stories of China’s long and splendid civilization. It serves as a historical and cultural repository along the Beijing Central Axis as well as a national cultural landmark to display Chinese civilization .

On the first day of the Chinese Archaeological Museum’s public opening, visitors admire a horse and chariot from the Yinxu Ruins, the site of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century - 11th century BC) . Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

On the first day of the Chinese Archaeological Museum’s public opening, visitors marvel at a turquoise-inlaid ivory cup from the Yinxu Ruins, the site of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century - 11th century BC). Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

A visitor tries playing Zhou dynasty bronze bells in an interactive exhibit. Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN

“Historical China and Ding-Cast Civilization: CAH Exhibition of Fine Cultural Relics and Documents” constitutes the basic exhibition of the Chinese Archaeological Museum. It features a warehouse display style and offers patrons a truly immersive experience, with an exhibition area of over 7,000 square meters housing more than 6,000 exhibits. All the unearthed cultural relics on display come primarily from frontline archaeological excavations. The exhibition is divided into five sections: “Origin of Civilization,” “Housing in China,” “Unified Great Nation,” “Ubiquitous Harmony and Integration,” and “National Awakening.” Its aim is to showcase the history of the formation and development of Chinese civilization and a unified multi-ethnic country over 5,000 years.

The opening event was hosted by Li Guoqiang, deputy director of the CAH. Staff from the CAH and relevant divisions of CASS, along with the first group of visitors attended the event.