The bronze Chinese zodiac animal heads, including the ox, tiger, horse, monkey, and pig, originally from the Old Summer Palace, are on display at the Yungang Grottoes museum in Datong city, Shanxi province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wang Chen, deputy director of the research center of cultural heritage and art at Yungang Research Institute, highlighted the exhibition's role in igniting anticipation for the return of the missing bronze animal heads.

The exhibition also sheds light on the tragic fate of stone Buddha statues, many of which were desecrated and sold overseas during the early 20th century, with remnants now on display alongside the bronze animal heads.

Hang Kan, head of the Yungang Research Institute, emphasized the enduring significance of the relics, saying: "The metal animal heads and the stone statues shared a sad and turbulent past, but they will always carry the immortal value of the culture."