Museum's multimedia show brings ancient past to present

CHANGSHA — In a packed auditorium at the Hunan Provincial Museum, a special performance is being staged, transporting the audience back to the Western Han Dynasty period (202 BC-AD 25).

Featuring melodious Beijing Opera vocals, mesmerizing choreography and modern multimedia visuals, the show is centered on the world-famous Mawangdui Tombs, bringing to life the ancient treasures discovered there.

"We want to tell a story that is consistent with the historical facts," said Chi Jun, the playwright behind the performance. "The performances that people see in the museum theater upstairs must match with the artifacts they have seen exhibited downstairs."

Mawangdui, which is located in the eastern suburbs of Changsha, capital of Hunan, is the location of the grand tombs of Li Cang, a nobleman also known as the Marquis of Dai during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), and his wife and son.

The site rose to international attention in the 1970s when researchers opened a coffin and discovered a female corpse showing no signs of decay. The corpse, now preserved in the museum, was over 2,200 years old and is said to be that of Li's wife Xin Zhui, also known as Lady Dai.

More than 3,000 precious cultural artifacts have been excavated from the site, including intricately crafted lacquerware pieces and skillfully woven silk garments adorned with beautiful embroidery, all of which are housed in the museum.