On the occasion of the May 18 International Museum Day, an exhibition featuring more than 400 relics retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea has been helping the visitors better understand how ancient "Made in China" goods reached the rest of the world.
Located at the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea in Qionghai City of south China's tropical island province of Hainan, the exhibition is showcasing more than the 400 artifacts which had been submerged in the sea for over 500 years at a depth of more than 1,500 meters.
Curator Xin Lixue said the collection of high-grade cultural relics is substantial in size, diverse in variety, and well-preserved. He said the exhibition aims to show the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road in ancient China and exchanges between Chinese and foreign civilizations.
These archaeological discoveries prove that Jingdezhen colored porcelain was exported in the middle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The two ancient shipwrecks from the Ming Dynasty were discovered near the northwest continental slope in the South China Sea in October 2022.
Jingdezhen is a prefecture-level city in east China's Jiangxi Province. It is known as the "Porcelain Capital" because it has been producing Chinese ceramics for at least 1,000 years. The city has a well-documented history that stretches back over 2,000 years.
Xin said 138 underwater heritage sites have now been found in the South China Sea, highlighting the richness of ancient maritime trade and cultural exchange.
One example is a type of water vessel on display, which was inspired by vessels from India, crafted with Chinese blue-and-white porcelain techniques and patterns, and then exported to Southeast Asia.
The most eye-catching exhibit is a Fahua-colored porcelain, which marks the first archaeological discovery of the porcelain type in a shipwreck.
"The lion motif came to China with Buddhism during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Over time, it was reshaped -- gentle, auspicious and beloved -- now a part of Chinese tradition. This reflects the inclusive nature of Chinese culture," said Xin while introducing the exhibit.
A large dish designed for Arab traders fit their custom of communal dining, while its decoration was purely Chinese.
"Arab families sit in circles to eat, with food in the center and sauces around. This plate suits that perfectly," Xin said.
Xin said new tools and techniques will help uncover more relics and stories deep in the sea.
Exploring "Made in China" through museum of South China Sea
China will take more effective measures to improve people's wellbeing, especially in education, healthcare, and social security, an official said Thursday in Beijing at a press conference on the interpretation of this year's government work report, which was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation earlier in the day.
Shen Danyang, head of the government work report drafting team and director of the State Council Research Office, said centering on enhancing educational equity and quality, the report made arrangements for education at all educational stages and of all types.
"Regarding preschool education, the policy of free education in the year prior to entering primary school will continue to be implemented this year, which is commonly referred to as free admission to the senior class of kindergartens. So, how can the income reduction of kindergartens be addressed? Subsidies will be provided by both the central and local governments, with the central government taking the lion's share. This year, the funds allocated to support the development of preschool education will increase significantly by 37.8 percent to ensure the implementation of the beneficial policy," he said.
Regarding senior high school education, Shen said the report stated that the supply of regular senior high school places will be increased,
Specifically, for areas with a continuous net inflow of population, a number of regular high schools will be planned and constructed on an annual basis. For regions with a temporary shortage of school places, priority will be given to the renovation and expansion of existing teaching buildings, student dormitories and canteens, he said.
Shen said the report put forward many supportive measures in healthcare.
"For instance, it urged efforts to strengthen coordination in drug use at the grassroots level, which mean improving the list of essential drugs, and optimizing the channels for drug supply and drug use coordination between upper- and lower-level medical and health institutions to make it more convenient for the public to use drugs at their doorstep. Besides, the report has made arrangements for supporting the development of innovative drugs for the third consecutive year. This year, China will strengthen the coordination of supportive policies in an all-round way, further address issues such as the barriers facing innovative drugs entering hospitals, and better meet the diverse medical and medication needs of the people," he said.
In terms of social security, Shen said the report proposed to continue raising the minimum standard of basic pensions for urban and rural residents -- a policy will benefit over 180 million elderly people.
"The central government will allocate 1.25 trillion yuan (about 181.25 billion U.S. dollars) in subsidy funds to ensure the timely and full payment of pensions. In response to the insufficient protection of the rights and interests of people engaging in new occupations, the report proposed to steadily and orderly expand the scale of the pilot program for occupational injury insurance. This year, the policy will cover 31 provincial-level regions across the country and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Meanwhile, enterprises specializing in travel, instant delivery and intra-city freight delivery will be included in the pilot program, which will ensure the safety of more laborers, such as food delivery workers and online car-hailing drivers," he said.
China to improve people's wellbeing in education, healthcare, social security: official
