Ancient treasures spark new pursuit of beauty
From an empress' coronet to an exquisite necklace, history inspires modern appreciation of Chinese artistry, Lin Qi reports.


The coronet is part of the long-term exhibition, Ancient China, at the museum, where a special queuing area has been set up since the magnet went viral late last year.
While a quick glance may suffice for a photo, it hardly reveals the rich history behind the ornate headpiece.
To give visitors a deeper experience, the National Museum recently launched a WeChat mini-program called Essentiality of Beauty. Whether on-site or online, it allows users access to a selection of collected antiquities at the museum, featuring images and texts with audio narrations.
The program would take people on a guided tour, combining virtual and real experiences, of 32 artifacts which are from different periods of time and on display at the museum's current long-term shows, including the Ming empress coronet.
