A set of Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) bronze chariots and horses, put on display in a museum in Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, fascinated visitors with the delicate design of its bronze umbrella.
The two Qin Dynasty bronze chariots, crafted over 2,200 years ago by skilled artisans to replicate the original appearance of the imperial carriage used by Qinshihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, were discovered in 1978 at the mausoleum site.
The No.1 bronze chariot consists of an open chariot drawn by four bronze horses, with a single standing driver and a bronze umbrella on a stand placed next to him.
The second piece, No.2 bronze chariot, is a closed carriage with two seats and an umbrella-like awning, which is also drawn by four bronze horses.
In addition to providing shade and shelter from rain, the umbrella on the chariot is also meant to demonstrate the emperor's majesty. Craftsmen back in the Qin Dynasty tried their best to display the texture of brocade with bronze.
In order to better show the exquisiteness of this cultural relic on the occasion of the International Museum Day on Sunday, archaeological experts restored Qinshihuang's umbrella by using cloth in real size proportion based on the extracted residual colors with reference to historical documents.
The sophisticated structure of the umbrella is divided into three parts: umbrella base, umbrella pole and umbrella cover. The parts are connected by detachable mortise and tenon structure, outstanding in both flexibility and stability.
In both sets of chariots and horses, there are more than 3,000 bronze parts, involving over 10 kinds of processes such as snap fastening, casting and welding, representing the world's highest level of metallurgical casting and manufacturing technologies back then.
Museum visitors fascinated by techniques for Qin Dynasty bronze chariots
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he estimates a deal with Iran will be signed "in the next day or two."
Trump said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 News that the United States and Iran will probably meet over the weekend to finalize a deal to end the war. "The Iranians want to meet and make a deal," he said.
He said "the naval blockade on Iran is helping to make a deal. I will not lift it until we make a deal," adding that "the biggest part of this deal is that it will make Israel safer. This deal is good for Israel."
According to the channel, one component of the deal under discussion is that the United States will release 20 billion U.S. dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
In exchange, Iran would give up its stockpile of enriched uranium, and would be only allowed to have nuclear research reactors to produce medical isotopes, all above ground.
Trump also stressed that Israel must stop the strikes on Lebanon, saying, "They can't keep blowing up buildings. I'm not going to allow that."
Also on Friday, Trump said in a phone interview with Bloomberg that a deal to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is mostly complete as talks over a lasting peace deal will "probably" be held this weekend in Pakistan.
Trump said in the phone interview that Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and will not receive any frozen funds from the United States.
"Most of the main points are finalized. It'll go pretty quickly," Trump said.
Asked if he would travel to Pakistan to sign the potential deal, Trump said: "I may."
Trump again denied that the moratorium on Iran's nuclear program would expire after 20 years. "No years, unlimited," Trump said.
The United States will get all of Iran's nuclear "dust" with no money having exchanged hands "in any way, shape, or form," Trump wrote on social media earlier on Friday. Multiple Western media outlets have interpreted Trump's reference to nuclear "dust" as meaning Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
Iran has yet to comment on any deal beyond the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, nor on claims made by Trump that Tehran had offered concessions, including over the key issue of its nuclear program.
If the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire between the two countries and will close the waterway, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Friday, citing an informed source close to the Supreme National Security Council.
The Iranian side has yet to respond to the media report on the enriched uranium issue.
The United States and Iran had their first round of negotiations in Pakistan's Islamabad last weekend to ease tension in the Middle East. The talks, which failed to produce an agreement, took place after a ceasefire was announced on April 8 between Iran, the United States, and Israel, following 40 days of fighting.
Iran tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on the country on Feb. 28. The United States also imposed a naval blockade on the strait following the failed negotiations in Islamabad.
Earlier on Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the strait had been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade would "remain in full force." In response, Iran warned of closing the waterway again if the U.S. blockade continues.
Trump says may sign deal with Iran "in the next day or two": Israeli media
Trump claims peace deal with Iran mostly complete: report
