by Xinhua writers Tan Jingjing, Wu Xiaoling, Gao Shan

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20 (Xinhua) -- From stately phoenixes, writhing serpents and horned spirits to fleshy jades, sonorous bells and swathes of wispy silk, the cultural relics from China's Bronze Age thrilled visitors at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

A major new exhibition of Chinese cultural relics was unveiled in the museum on Friday. Titled "Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age," the exhibition showcases more than 260 pieces or sets of artifacts from ancient Chinese Zeng and Chu kingdoms during the multistate Zhou Dynasty, a period known for its cultural diversity and the birth of great philosophers like Confucius.

"There are so many intricate details in the works -- how intricate it is and how complicated, how complex the manufacturing was. It really makes you respect the ancient people," Jason Tse, a San Francisco local, told Xinhua at the museum.

The artifacts, which include jade, bronze, gold, lacquer and textile works, bring to life the distinguished Bronze Age that flourished 3,000 years ago along the Yangzi River, a cradle of Chinese civilization.

This is the largest exhibition of cultural property China has ever organized in the United States in recent years. Many of the artifacts have never been exhibited outside China before.

"The artworks on display are stunning, and our community is so lucky to be the first in the United States to experience the sophistication, the beauty, and the splendor of China's Bronze Age," said Mayor of San Francisco London Breed in a congratulatory letter to the event.

Among the most prominent artifacts are a giant bronze wine cooler, a jade pendant carved with dragon and phoenix patterns, and embroidered silk clothes.

"Phoenix elements are prominent in Chu culture, while in Western culture, the phoenix is seen as an auspicious bird. By using the phoenix as the theme of the exhibition, we hope to evoke an artistic and aesthetic resonance among Chinese and Western audiences," said Zhang Xiaoyun, curator of the Hubei Provincial Museum.

The artifacts have been collected from museums in five cities in Hubei Province in China.

"Supported by in-depth academic research and the latest archaeological findings, the exhibition showcases the continuity, unity, peace, inclusiveness and innovativeness of Chinese civilization," said Chinese Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Li Qun at the exhibition's opening ceremony.

"Featuring authentic artifacts from China's Bronze Age, this exhibit will allow visitors to appreciate China's rich history as they peer into the fascinating cultures of the Zeng and Chu states. In doing so, the exhibit will strengthen this museum's role as a community hub for residents of Asian ancestry in California," said Governor of California Gavin Newsom in a letter.

The exhibition has offered visitors an opportunity to feast on Chinese culture.

"The Chinese culture has a lot of beauty to it," said Natalia, a seventh grader at Hillcrest Middle School in San Francisco. "It has a sense of serenity and beauty. And the artifacts that have been discovered show how rich and powerful, and how gorgeous the artifacts were."

"It's incredible to see all these artifacts from 2,500 years ago. It's a great opportunity to unify the two nations through art," John Maa, a resident of San Francisco, told Xinhua. "We're so grateful about this exhibition."

"Sometimes there can be a gap between how Americans and Chinese see each other," Tse told Xinhua, adding that he hoped the exhibition would help visitors better understand Chinese culture.

The exhibition runs until July 22 and is organized by the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and the Hubei Provincial Museum in China. Enditem

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