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    The Nanjing Museum

    Written by: Luo Zhewen
    Posted on: April 14, 2016 |

    The Nanjing Museum

    The Nanjing Museum is located inside the Zhongshan Gate of Nanjing City. Its predecessor was known as the Central Museum Preparatory Location. The complex of buildings covers 70,000 square meters and represents an amalgamation of East and West, with the great hall imitating the style of a Liao Dynasty (907-1125 AD ) palace.

    The Museum currently holds some 400,000 objects, among which are some of the most famous and historically significant items from around the country. These include the only complete set of "jade suits sewed with silver thread" in China, which are world-renowned. In 1982, a Chu State tomb from the Warring States period was excavated, from which stellar pieces were retrieved, which also form some of the extraordinary treasures in this museum.

    The Nanjing Museum, China

    Interior of the museum

    The collection of calligraphy and paintings is also very special. Among the 100,000 objects that have officially entered the collections, most are Ming- and Qing- dynasty works of artists who lived in the Jiangsu area. Among these, the most significant are the ‘Wu Men Painting School,’ ‘Yangzhou Painting School’, ‘Jinling Painting School,’ as well as a few Song and Yuan Dynasty works. Most of the representative works of the modern Chinese painter Fu Baoshi (1904-1965; painter, art historian) and Chen Zhifo (1896-1962; painter, modern arts educator) are stored here.

    The Nanjing Museum holds the objects excavated by archaeologists in the early part of the twentieth century that were moved to Nanjing when the Palace Museum moved southward. These include excavations in Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and other places. Collections also include artifacts from Southwest China of the Naxi tribe, the Yi tribe, the Miao tribe, and other national minorities.

    The Nanjing Museum, China

    The museum also holds a wealth of historic documents, including memorials to the Emperor of nineteenth-century figures including Weng Tonghe (1830-1904), a notable reformist. Other documents include title deeds for land and housing, documents for leasing fields, and tenant farmer contracts.

    The Museum employs modern scientific methods of conservation, and is active in displaying its holdings, having hosted over 236 exhibitions.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021