Visitors take photos of a historical artifact. [Photo/IC]

The second edition of a special exhibition of the top 100 treasures of museums in Zhejiang opened Hangzhou, the provincial capital on Jan 26, featuring 23 top treasures from 21 local cultural and historical units.

Zhejiang, with a history spanning millions of years of human civilization and over 5,000 years of Chinese cultural history, boasts countless precious artifacts housed in various museums.

In 2023, Zhejiang unveiled the first list of "Top 100 Treasures" from museums across the province, covering seven categories with a total of 100 pieces or sets.

One highlight of the exhibition is the Imperial Inspection of West Lake Palace, a silk scroll dating back to the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which played a role in supporting West Lake's UNESCO World Heritage nomination. The aerial view painting realistically depicts Emperor Qianlong's six trips to the West Lake palace, showcasing each scenic spot, its specific location, and mileage.

Describing the importance of the painting, Pan Cangsang, director of the West Lake Museum said, "The map can be seen as a convenient guide for the emperor's outings. Through this map, we can see West Lake as it was more than 200 years ago." He noted that over 90 percent of the information in the painting corresponds to the modern West Lake, making it not only a work of art but also a valuable historical document.

The exhibition is being hosted at the Zhijiang Branch of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum and will run until April 7.

A historical artifact is on display at the Zhijiang Branch of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum. [Photo/IC]