Chinese cuisine is one of the world's most unique and diverse. Not surprisingly, the culture of Chinese food and drink containers has a long history.

An exhibition of exquisite Chinese tableware is now open in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

Nearly 140 items and sets of tablewares are on display, dating from the New Stone Age to the end of the Qing Dynasty, the last feudal monarchy in China, which was overthrown in 1912.

The diverse items, of bronze, pottery, gold and other materials, show the evolution of Chinese tableware over the ages.

They are on loan from the Chinese National Museum and Henan Museum's archaeological institute. The exhibition will last half a year.
 
(Chinabroadcast.cn June 25, 2004)