A turquoise dragon-form artifact at Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Unearthed from Erlitou site in the city of Luoyang, the turquoise dragon-form artifact has a total length over 70 centimeters and was formed from more than 2,000 pieces of turquoise. (Xinhua/Li He)

With Chinese people joyfully celebrating the Year of the Dragon, cultural relics featuring the Chinese dragon, also known as loong, in museums across China have once again captured the spotlight.

An exhibition involving over 200 pieces of loong-themed cultural relics from different historical periods in ancient China is on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Various cultural relics, such as bronzeware, jade artifacts, porcelain items, gold and silverware, lacquerware and paintings ranging from the Neolithic Age to the early 20th century, are being showcased at the exhibition.

One of the most attractive exhibits is a C-shaped jade loong of the Hongshan culture in the Neolithic Age, which serves as important material evidence for the study of original images of the Chinese dragon in ancient times.

The Chinese Archaeological Museum in Beijing is displaying a loong-shaped artifact made up of over 2,000 pieces of turquoise. Dating back more than 3,000 years, this artifact is regarded by many Chinese scholars as the oldest Chinese dragon totem in existence.

The Museum of Heilongjiang Province houses a precious bronze antique of a crouching loong from the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234).

Featuring a raised head, an open mouth suggestive of a roar, and slightly hunched shoulders, it presents the viewer with a majestic and vigorous demeanor.

A collection of six loongs captures the attention of visitors to the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Crafted from copper and iron, with gold gilding adorning their surfaces, the S-shaped loongs date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Unlike the conventional portrayal of majestic flying loongs, these exquisite artifacts have slender legs resembling a running posture, with the tallest measuring only 2.8 cm.

Experts believe that they might have been used in ritual ceremonies, such as praying for favorable weather and prosperity.

In traditional Chinese culture, the loong symbolizes strength, auspiciousness, and extraordinary abilities, embodying wishes for favorable weather, peace, and well-being.

According to experts, loong-themed cultural relics from various periods in China convey the innovative, inclusive, cohesive, and striving spirit of the Chinese nation. 

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