China's national museum celebrates Year of Snake with new exhibition

The National Museum of China unveiled a new exhibition in honor of the Year of the Snake, showcasing over 200 exceptional artifacts from its extensive collection.

The 2025 Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year's Day, fell on Wednesday, ushering in the Year of the Snake. The zodiac snake ranks the sixth in the cycle of 12 zodiac animals on the Chinese lunar calendar.

The immersive display highlights the rich cultural significance of the Spring Festival and offers visitors a deeper understanding of the symbolism and artistic traditions associated with the holiday.

A focal point of the exhibition is a Tang Dynasty (618-907) artwork depicting the mythological figures Fuxi and Nvwa, revered as the ancestors of the Chinese people.

"The serpent-like lower body is intertwined in a spiral structure, representing the continuity of life. The concept of yin and yang [describing an opposite but interconnected, self-perpetuating cycle] are [is] encapsulated in this artwork, reflecting the Chinese understanding of the universe in ancient times," Zhuge Yingliang, the exhibition curator, explained. The exhibition also highlights the frequent appearance of serpents in ancient Chinese art, particularly during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (1600-771 B.C.), where serpentine motifs were often used on bronze vessels. These motifs symbolized reproduction, wisdom and strength.

"The serpent pattern on the wings of the owl vessel carries the connotations of rising power, imbuing it with greater strength," said Zhuge.

Another standout artifact is a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) porcelain vase, renowned for its vibrant glazes in yellow, blue, green and red, creating vivid color blocks reminiscent of fireworks.

This piece radiates the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year and represents people's best wishes for lasting prosperity and grandeur.

"In Chinese culture, lanterns symbolize good fortune. The imagery which looks like vibrant fireworks is attached to this porcelain piece. During the Qianlong period [the Qianlong reign (1735-1796) of the Qing Dynasty], we often see more figurative patterns, while such abstract and contemporary designs are rare on porcelain. This artifact allows us to transcend time," said Zhuge.

The exhibition, officially opened on Jan 22, spans a wide range of categories, including bronze, jade, ceramics, and gold and silver cultural relics, showcasing the artistic achievements of Chinese culture.

China's national museum celebrates Year of Snake with new exhibition

More than 1,000 demonstrators took to the street in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to protest against the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minnesota earlier this week, as well as U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

"And the brutality of ICE to shoot a woman in the head three times is appalling. And why we're allowing that, why is this happening in the United States? It's unbelievable. They're not taking just undocumented immigrants. They're taking everybody and they're asking questions later," said a protester who was only identified as Jonelle.

"[U.S. military striking on] Venezuela was completely wrong, completely wrong. Constitutionally, he had no right to do that. And the fact that the oil companies knew what he was going to do before even Congress or the military knew, just tells you everything you need to know," noted another protester, who was only named as Erin.

Analysts pointed out the protests reflect strong dissatisfaction among the U.S. public with the government's handling of both domestic affairs and foreign policy at present.

Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot dead on Wednesday by an agent of the ICE. The killing sparked outrage in the Democratic-led state and beyond, triggering protests and vigils aimed at ICE and federal immigration policy.

Protests erupt in Los Angeles against ICE, U.S. actions in Venezuela