Journey into the Hongshan civilization at Shanghai Museum East Branch

"Legends of Dragon: The Ancient Civilization of Hongshan Culture" will be held at Shanghai Museum East Branch.

The Hongshan civilization, dating back approximately 6,500 to 5,000 years, was a major neolithic archeological culture in northern China. It extended across western Liaoning, southeastern Inner Mongolia, and northern Hebei, covering an area of about 200,000 square kilometers.

Known for its distinctive jade ritual objects – particularly jade dragons – it represents one of the earliest examples of ancient state-level societies in China and is considered a crucial origin of Chinese civilization.

This is the fourth exhibition in the Shanghai Museum's "Why China" archeological series.

Co-organized with 20 museums and archeological institutions from Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Beijing, and other regions, the exhibition features over 300 carefully selected artifacts, bringing together a century of Hongshan archeological discoveries along with the latest findings.

The exhibition centers around two iconic jade pieces: the C-shaped Jade Dragon ("C"型玉龙) from the Palace Museum and the Jade Dragon in the Shape of Jue (slit ring) (玦形玉龙) from the Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology (辽宁省文物考古研究院).

Through three themed sections, the exhibition explores the formation of early unified belief systems and ceremonial practices in Hongshan society, offering a glimpse into the ancient political and ritual order of this early state. It also traces the unique developmental path of the Hongshan civilization, providing tangible evidence of the Chinese nation's more than 5,000 years of continuous existence.

The exhibition design adopts a modern visual language to interpret this ancient civilization. Inspired by Hongshan ritual architecture, the gallery layout blends square and circular elements and follows a symmetrical central axis.

The main color palette features "Hongshan red" and graphite gray, complemented by beige, jade green, and muted green tones to highlight the artifacts. The overall design takes "the mountain" as its structural motif, with artistic installations extending into the public space.

A highlight of the exhibition is the suspended central display, specially designed for featured items. Transparent and layered lighting techniques are used for the Tubular Jade Object (筒形器) and other unique forms, while custom-shaped mounts are tailored to each artifact to ensure both safety and visual appeal. Materials include colored frosted acrylic and custom-designed art paper, allowing for multi-angle viewing and an optimal exhibition experience.

The lighting design uses shadow and light to convey the solemnity and mystery of the Hongshan civilization. Low-intensity warm white light creates a sense of historical depth, while precisely focused neutral lighting highlights the textures of the artifacts, creating a dramatic contrast that draws visitors into a spiritual and visual exploration of this 5,000-year-old culture.

To complement the exhibition, the Shanghai Museum's cultural and creative store has launched three major series of 153 cultural and creative products inspired by Hongshan pottery, jade, and the origins and legacy of dragon culture. These include fridge magnets, plush toys, tote bags, bookmarks, ice cream, and various types of jewelry.

If you go

Date: June 26-October 8

Venue: Shanghai Museum East Branch, Bright Dairy & Food Exhibition Gallery 1 | 上海博物馆东馆,光明乳业第一特展厅

Address: 1952 Century Avenue | 世纪大道1952号