Ancient China

Crafts and Artisans

Jade and bronze were the most prized materials in Ancient China. Jade was believed to have magical properties and to preserve the dead.

Workshop Alley

There are a number of workshops in this ancient Chinese street. Click on them to find out what they are making inside.

Ancient Chinese Tomb

The ancient Chinese believed that the afterlife was a continuation of life on earth.

The powerful and wealthy of Ancient China had their tombs furnished with very fine objects made from the very best materials. They brought objects with them that they would use in the next life. They had large sets of ritual vessels in their tombs so they could continue to make offerings to their ancestors. They often had weapons buried with them to show their power and they could also be used in the afterlife.

Tomb objects

In search of "Dragon Bones"

In 1899 a man called Wang Yirong, a director in the Imperial Academy of State Education in Beijing became ill with malaria. His doctor sent to the local apothecary for the best known treatment of malaria - ground up dragon bones!