The exhibition location of ‘Exhibition of Guangdong’s Historical and Cultural Relics’ is the historical exhibition hall of Guangdong Museum. The exhibition hall of ‘Exhibition of Guangdong’s Historical and Cultural Relics’ covers an area of more than 4,000 square meters and displays more than 1,500 cultural relics/sets and more than 300 photos. As one of the three basic exhibitions of the new museum, this exhibition shows the historical and cultural changes of Guangdong from the Maba Man to the founding of New China to the audience in an all-round and multi-angle way through rich exhibition means such as cultural relics, pictures, oil paintings, sculptures, models, multimedia, and restored scenes. The 40-meter-long Liede dragon boat, the only set of Guangzhou export wallpapers found so far in China, the exquisitely carved ivory carved hollowed-out gift box, and the album of ‘Photography of Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway Construction’ signed by Zhan Tianyou himself, which is rare in China, are all highlights of this exhibition. In terms of formal design, the exhibition hall of ‘Exhibition of Guangdong’s Historical and Cultural Relics’ combines artistic designs such as Guangdong land and sea maps inlaid with historical elements, large-scale historical theme oil paintings, restored scenes combining large-scale murals and architecture, and modern celebrity sculpture groups, making this exhibition extremely attractive and infectious, and everywhere is filled with the Guangdong spirit of being pragmatic, seeking truth, and daring to be the first. ‘Exhibition of Guangdong’s Historical and Cultural Relics’ consists of four chapters. Taking the chronological order as the main line, they are respectively ‘Origins of South Guangdong’, ‘Sailing to the World’, ‘Carrying on the Past and Opening up the Future’, and ‘Flames of War in Guangdong and the South China Sea’. Entering the foyer, you are greeted by the magnificent Guangdong land and sea map. On the wall based on satellite maps, various elements representing Guangdong’s historical and cultural relics faintly emerge on the land of South Guangdong and the vast South China Sea. The design of the foyer boldly and innovatively highly integrates time and space.
The first chapter ‘Origins of South Guangdong’ traces the origin of Guangdong people, the process of ethnic integration, and the formation of the three main ethnic groups in Guangdong and the characteristics of folk culture. Maba Man’s skull,Shouldered stone tools, oil painting of the Nanyue King, Guangzhou teahouse, Liede dragon boat, Chaozhou Dawu clay sculpture, Hakka round houses… The audience can feel a vivid and three-dimensional South Guangdong from visual, auditory, and tactile aspects. The second chapter ‘Sailing to the World’ leads the audience into the Maritime Silk Road and experiences the wonderful course of Guangdong’s opening up and exchanges. Guangzhou ships full of porcelain, Thirteen Hongs gathering strange foreign goods, exquisite Guangcai porcelain, Guangzhou carvings and once popular export paintings. The combination of Chinese and Western styles everywhere tells of Guangdong’s openness and compatibility. In the third chapter ‘Carrying on the Past and Opening up the Future’, famous people in Guangdong who ‘pioneer new trends’ jointly interpret the modern storms that have changed the course of Chinese history. Patriots who resist British aggression and strive for strength, advocates of the Westernization Movement, leaders of the Reform Movement, pioneers of the Revolution of 1911, heroes of the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and pioneers of national industry and commerce… Countless people with lofty ideals and talents turn into twinkling stars, shining brightly on the land of South Guangdong.The fourth chapter, ‘Flames of War in the Yue Sea’, narrates to the audience the epic tale of Guangdong’s military and civilians during the Anti-Japanese War, in blood and fire. Black and white historical photographs display the resilient and unyielding revolutionary spirit of the people of Southern Guangdong. Echoing the Guangdong maritime map in the pre-hall, the exhibition concludes with a view of the boundless South China Sea. The sea embraces all rivers and flows ceaselessly, carrying the civilization of thousands of years, as the people of Guangdong, filled with hope, step towards the world and embrace the future!
The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00-17:00 (ticketing and entry cease at 16:00), and is closed on Mondays (except for legal holidays and special circumstances).
