As an important discovery of ancient China, lacquerware was used to make various kinds of utensils as early as the Neolithic Age. Over the course of thousands of years, the technique of lacquerware production in China has developed to a very high level.

Titled "The Immortal: Continued and Gorgeous Lacquer Art," an exhibition currently underway at the Liangzhu Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, offers visitors a rare opportunity to learn more about this art form unique to Chinese civilization. The exhibition features selected collections of lacquer artifacts from 11 museums and research institutions across the country, including the Zhejiang Museum, Hubei Museum and Hunan Museum.

Divided into three sections, the exhibition not only showcases the unique charm of lacquer art, but also traces its development through different ages and dynasties up to the present day, and explores its spiritual connotations that explain why it has won the favor of the Chinese people over the millennia.   

Featuring the colors red and black and elegant patterns, ancient lacquerware in China was created for both daily use and sacrificial purposes. Due to the special chemical properties of lacquer, lacquerware is less susceptible to erosion from air or water than ceramics or bronzeware. This is why some of the oldest lacquerware, dating back more than 4,000 years to China's Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), looks almost as new as modern lacquerware.

The exhibition will run until May 5.