The Ordos Bronze Civilization Exhibition opened on April 2 at the Shandong Museum in Jinan city, East China's Shandong province. Co-hosted by the Shandong Museum and the Ordos Museum, it will run for three months.

Featuring over 350 bronze artifacts dating from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c.16th century-256 BC) to the Han dynasty (206 BC-220), the exhibition explores the unique and mysterious bronze civilization culture of Ordos' grassland region.

Many pieces are decorated with animal motifs, including tigers, wolves, horses, and falcons, depicted in dynamic and lifelike forms. These designs reflect the nomadic people's deep reverence for vitality and nature.

"Ordos bronzes have distinct regional characteristics, with nearly all grassland animals intricately portrayed," said Dou Zhibin, director of the Ordos Museum. He noted that while most animal patterns on Ordos bronzes originate from the northern nomadic ecosystem, some motifs, such as phoenixes and dragons, show the influence of Central Plains ceremonial culture. These artifacts were not just tools for daily life but also works of art.

Dou highlighted Ordos' historical role as a hub of cultural interaction among various ethnic groups, evident in many bronze artifacts.

Liu Yanchang, director of the Shandong Museum, emphasized Ordos' significance as a key birthplace of northern China's nomadic civilization. He noted that influences from eastern Inner Mongolia, the Central Plains, and even the Eurasian grasslands can be seen in Ordos bronzes.

"Shandong and Ordos are nourished by the Yellow River, sharing a deep cultural connection. The exchanges between Qilu culture and grassland culture reveal the rich and diverse nature of Chinese civilization," Liu said.