The Khitan under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy introduced watermelons using greenhouses!
The Grassland Silk Road, the northernmost route connecting Eurasia via the steppe, served as both a meeting point for nomadic and agrarian civilizations and a bridge for dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures.
The Qin Dynasty's construction of the "Straight Road" laid its foundation, while the Han Dynasty's silk trade with the Xiongnu thrived along this route. The Northern New Route flourished during the Wei and Jin periods, and the Tang Dynasty's "Path to the Heavenly Khan" extended its influence far and wide.
The Upper Xiajiadian Culture (11th–7th century BCE) yielded artifacts like flat-headed bronze swords and bronze deer plaques, similar in style to those from Arzhan Kurgan 2. Later, the southeastern Inner Mongolia region was gradually occupied by the Donghu, ancestors of the Khitan people.
The Scythians, a nomadic people active on the Eurasian steppe from the 9th century BCE to the 2nd century CE, influenced the art of the Ordos, Xiongnu, and Xianbei peoples with their symmetrical twin-horse deities, exaggerated antler motifs, and scenes of predators attacking herbivores.
The Pazyryk Culture (5th–3rd century BCE) exemplified the multicultural exchange along the Grassland Silk Road.
During the Liao, Song, Western Xia, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, the Grassland Silk Road reached its zenith. Liao Taizu Abaoji launched multiple western campaigns, expanding the empire's reach to the Hexi Corridor under Empress Dowager Chengtian. Gaochang, Qiuci, and other states submitted to Liao rule. The Northwest Route Pacification Office and Zhenzhou were established to safeguard the Silk Road.
The Liao envoys popularized the term "Cathay" (Kitaia, Cathaia, etc.) as the common name for China in Central Asia. Meanwhile, the Western Xia controlled the Hexi Corridor, turning it into a trade hub, while the Song Dynasty frequently engaged with Central Asia via the Grassland Silk Road.
The Liao-era Grassland Silk Road started from Shangjing (south of present-day Lindong Town, Bairin Left Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia), Zhongjing (present-day Daming Town, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia), or Nanjing Xijin Prefecture (present-day Beijing) to Duolun.
From there, it ran westward along the Yin Mountains to Xijing Datong Prefecture (present-day Datong, Shanxi), crossed the Hetao region, passed through Juyan to Yizhou (present-day Hami), then via Gaochang and the Tang-era Beiting (present-day Jimsar) to Ili, reaching Suyab and the northern regions of the Samanid Empire.
The Khitan sacrificed white horses and black oxen. The Liao Ancestral Mausoleum is located in Bairin Left Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. The Liao Dynasty established a state-run pastoral system and developed a thriving silk industry, with specialized sericulture and weaving zones in the Daling River basin.
The imperial workshops in Shangjing and Zuzhou produced brocades and damasks using silk tribute from sericulture households. Hemp cloth was widely produced, used for taxes and even as currency.
After Liao Shizong relocated captured households from Dingzhou to Hongzheng County, Yizhou, Zhongjing, Liao ceramics flourished, creating unique artifacts like the cockscomb flask, chicken-leg jar, phoenix-head vase, and crabapple dish.
After the Liao banned horse sacrifices for burials, gold and silver horse trappings replaced them. Khitan saddles, Duan inkstones, Shu brocade, and Ding porcelain were hailed as the "Four Finest Under Heaven."
Khitan horse trappings inherited the belt culture of the Turks and Uyghurs, innovating with jade-adorned saddles and harnesses.
Xuanhua (then Guihua Prefecture under the Liao) served as a vital hub connecting Yan and Yun, where nomadic and agrarian cultures intermingled.
The Yuan Dynasty built a postal road network linking Dadu, Zhongdu, and Shangdu, fostering commerce through tax exemptions. Qiu Chuji, the Taoist master, traveled the Grassland Silk Road to meet Genghis Khan.
During the Southern Song, Hong Hao successfully introduced watermelon seeds to the Central Plains. Meanwhile, the Khitan obtained watermelon seeds from the Uyghurs and cultivated them using "cow dung-covered greenhouses"—an early form of agricultural greenhouse technology!
It was truly a challenging experience; both adults and children were exhausted after three hours. The tour guide provided a very thorough and detailed explanation, supplementing the information with materials on a tablet throughout – a truly in-depth, educational tour. This kind of service is essential for a truly rewarding museum visit.
Guide Cheng's explanations were very detailed, and his manner was polite, humble, and gentle. In 2.5 hours, we learned about the history from the Paleolithic period to the Liao and Jin dynasties of the Qing Dynasty. Guide Cheng's explanations provided a clear and comprehensive understanding of the timeline. Although it was only a basic introduction and learning experience, we were able to unlock a piece of history through the artifacts. The museum's most prized possessions were explained in detail, making it a very worthwhile experience!
The best decision I made on this trip to the Liaoning Provincial Museum was booking a guided tour! Dr. Wang's professionalism was off the charts. He effortlessly discussed the museum's collection, historical background, and craftsmanship details, not only explaining the artifacts themselves but also connecting them to regional culture and historical changes. He brought the museum's most prized possessions to life with clarity and vividness. His language was accessible and easy to understand, with no unnecessary chatter and perfect pacing. I was completely absorbed for hours, wanting more. I highly recommend that anyone visiting the Liaoning Provincial Museum take a guided tour—let the inanimate artifacts speak and immerse yourself in a thousand years of civilization!
It is definitely worth going! Conveniently located, a few minutes' walk from the Provincial Museum subway station; there are more than 20 exhibition halls in the museum, with precious cultural relics shining everywhere, such as "Ladies with Flowers in Their Hairpins" and "Auspicious Cranes", jade and porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Liao Dynasty porcelain, and ancient bronze mirrors... There are often very good temporary exhibitions, such as the current "Feng Shen You Yi"; the cultural and creative products are exquisite and inexpensive... In short, you must go there to broaden your horizons and set aside at least 6 hours.
【Scenery】 The museum is very large and has many exhibition halls, but you can visit them all in one day. 【Value for money】 1. Each exhibition hall is relatively dark, and the light shines on the exhibits, and the pictures also present a naked eye 3D effect. 2. The timed short film is particularly interesting. 3. The projection on the ground and the lighting technology are also first-class. 4. The lifelike sculptures brought us a visual impact, as if we also traveled to that era with the sling. 5. Panoramic view of Tianshenghao Stone Arch Bridge, and the fish in the river are also imaged by light. 6. The temporary exhibition hall displays many works of art, with styles between the Ming Dynasty and modern times. 7. Make a porcelain with computer simulation, and you can also answer some questions about porcelain.
I must give a big five-star praise to the tour guide Xiao Si! This trip to Liaoning Museum was so wonderful, all thanks to Xiao Si's professional and enthusiastic explanation! He has a rich knowledge of the cultural relics in the museum. From the painted pottery of the Neolithic Age to the calligraphy and painting of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, each exhibit can be explained in detail in combination with the historical background and artistic characteristics. The originally cold cultural relics become vivid in his mouth. When explaining, he also takes special care of everyone's reactions, and throws out small questions from time to time to trigger interaction. The interesting historical stories interspersed make people fascinated. The rhythm of the whole process is just right, neither rushing around nor procrastinating. Xiao Si's patient and humorous explanation gave me a new understanding of Liaoning's history and culture, and the experience was directly full! It is highly recommended to find a tour guide Xiao Si, which will definitely double your gains from your trip to Liaoning Museum!
The Liaoning Provincial Museum recently has a Hanjian exhibition in Gansu, which is very good. Gansu area is located in the arid northwest. So few Western Hanjians are completely preserved, which is very helpful for studying the slightly historical history of the Western Region. It may be spent on ordinary people. The exhibition hall is very elegant, but for me such a poor vision people a little hard to see and can not see the taste.
It is a museum worth visiting. The exhibits are very historical. You can rent explanation equipment to make your museum trip worthwhile. In addition, friends who like stamp collection and historical cultural creation should not miss it. Whether it is refrigerator magnets or various cultural relics, there is always one that you can't put down. The newly opened digital exhibition hall is also unique. Taking the children to see it once is like taking a unique history lesson.