Ordos bronze relics debut in Chongqing, showcasing grassland civilization

Bronze relics from Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region went on display in Chongqing for the first time on Feb 10, when the exhibition "The Metal Road of the Northern Grasslands – Bronze Echoes from Ordos" opened to the public at the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum.

The exhibition, which is free to enter, runs through May 18 and offers visitors a glimpse into the nomadic culture of the northern grasslands.

It features 369 sets of bronze artifacts and traces the development of northern grassland bronzes through four themed sections: daily life, warfare, ornamentation, and animal imagery. The objects are arranged in chronological order, offering a panoramic picture of a grassland civilization shaped by migration and cultural exchanges.

According to curator Wang Qiyue, bronze ware for northern ethnic groups was not only a practical tool for life on horseback, but also a carrier of cultural identity. Items such as daggers, maces, and horse gear reflect the survival skills and martial traditions of nomadic peoples, while finely crafted ornaments embody their distinctive aesthetic.