Located in Peng Zu's hometown, the Xuzhou Museum centers its exhibitions on Han Dynasty culture, housing over 30,000 artifacts that together form a time tunnel spanning millennia. In the Han Jade Gallery, openwork jade pendants depicting dragons and phoenixes and dragon-patterned jade bi discs gleam with a soft luster under the lights. These exquisitely carved jades—crafted by Han artisans with sub-millimeter precision—bear witness to the ritual ethos embodied in the saying, "A gentleman compares his virtue to jade."
In the Chu-Han Terracotta Figurines Hall, imposing ranks of warrior-and-horse statues stand alongside vividly colored ensembles of acrobatic performers, their earthen forms preserving the grandeur of the Western Han dynasty. Among them, the “Everlasting Joy” (Changle Wuyang) roof tile and the bronze chariot-and-horses ensemble labeled “The Son of Heaven’s Six-Horse Chariot” (Tianzi Jia Liu) unveil key elements of Han imperial ritual codes.
Strolling through the immersive “Peng Zu Banquet” theater, visitors witness a holographic re-creation of the epic tragedy of the Battle of Gaixia from the Chu-Han Contention. The thunderous neigh of Xiang Yu’s [“Hegemon-King of Western Chu”] steed, Zhui, mingles with the sword dance of Yu Ji [“Songstress of Western Chu”], allowing history’s echoes to resonate across time.
Inside the museum, a specially designed miniature diorama titled “Xuzhou Han Tombs” replicates the Western Han royal tombs at Shizi Mountain at a 1:10 scale. Murals within the tomb chambers—depicting processions of chariots and horses alongside scenes of kitchen preparations and banquets—vividly illustrate the aristocratic rites and musical traditions of Han society.
As the cradle of the Two Han dynasties, Xuzhou gave birth to emperors and statesmen such as Liu Bang [Founding Emperor of the Western Han], Liu Heng [Emperor Wen of the Western Han], and Liu Xiu [Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han]. Their tombs and unearthed relics collectively map the spiritual landscape of Han culture. The museum’s special exhibition “Elegance of Han Culture” showcases bronzes, lacquerware, brocades, and other artifacts, revealing the Han dynasty’s inclusive and cosmopolitan cultural spirit, inviting visitors to feel the eternal pulse of Chinese civilization through dialogue with these ancient treasures.
