Returned treasure

A 3,000-year-old bronze vessel was added to the collection of the National Museum of China and displayed to the public in 2018. The object is a fine example of the casting of ceremonial bronze in ancient China and related rituals and hierarchy of the time. Called Hu Ying ("tiger vessel") because of the shape of its lid, it used to be at the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) royal court until it was looted, among other items, when foreign forces raided and set fire to the Old Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860. Decades later it appeared at a London auction, and through negotiations, was returned to China. It is now on show in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, at Hu Ying: New Age, Different Fate, an exhibition that runs through to April 1. Also on display are dozens of bronze items of the time when this vessel was made, between the late Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) and the early Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), giving a broader perspective of the artistic and technical features of such wares. Many photos, drawings and documents display the history of the Old Summer Palace and focus on the importance of the return of looted artifacts. Harbin Museum is the first stop of a national tour of the exhibits.

9 am-4 pm, closed on Mondays. 1296 Jingjiang West Road, Daoli district, Harbin, Heilongjiang province.