A captivating exhibition featuring 85 retrieved cultural relics is currently on display at the Zhangzhou Museum in Fujian Province, east China, drawing large crowds of visitors eager to appreciate these national treasures during the National Day holiday.
The collection features a remarkable array of artifacts, including bronze items from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600 BC-256 BC), stone-carved Buddha statues from the Northern Dynasties (439-581 AD), and the renowned bronze animal heads from the Old Summer Palace.
These items were among the countless treasures that were looted by Anglo-French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860. Of the twelve animal heads, seven have been returned.
Of the pieces shown on display during the holiday, the ox, tiger, monkey, and pig heads the originals, while the rat and rabbit heads are replicas, and the horse head is a reproduction.
As the largest exhibition of retrieved cultural relics ever held in Fujian, the event has attracted nearly 120,000 visitors during the eight-day holiday, which concludes on Wednesday.
"We hope this exhibition will deepen public understanding of China's profound historical and cultural heritage that spans thousands of years, and inspire patriotic enthusiasm," said Li Haimei, head of the museum.
Visitors said the retrieved artifacts have inspired hope and pride as symbols of China's enduring civilization and dedication to preserving heritage.
"When I was a child, I learned about the animal heads in my textbook. Today, I am so happy to see them in person. The exhibits represent more than just themselves; they are a testament to our country's growing strength," said Tang Tingjia, a visitor.
Retrieved cultural relics inspire pride at National Holiday exhibition in east China
U.S. stocks sank on Thursday as an escalating conflict in the Middle East and a renewed surge in oil prices weighed heavily on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.61 percent to 47,954.74. The S and P 500 sank 0.56 percent to 6,830.71. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.26 percent to 22,748.99.
Eight of the 11 primary S and P 500 sectors ended in the red, with consumer staples and materials leading the laggards by dropping 2.43 percent and 2.27 percent, respectively. Energy and technology led the gainers by adding 0.59 percent and 0.39 percent, respectively.
Oil prices jumped significantly after Iran announced it had struck an oil tanker with a missile. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude futures for April delivery surged 8.51 percent to settle over 81 U.S. dollars per barrel, reaching their highest level since July 2024. International benchmark Brent crude futures for May delivery advanced 4.93 percent, trading above 85 dollars per barrel. These sharp upward movements in energy markets drove major swings across equities throughout the trading session.
As Iran is the fourth-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, concerns are mounting that the conflict's impact on production capabilities could have wide-ranging effects across global commodities. The soaring energy prices have also sparked fears among investors that persistent inflationary pressures might force the Federal Reserve to re-evaluate its anticipated interest rate cuts in an already volatile market environment.
In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed to near 4.14 percent, up from Wednesday's close of approximately 4.1 percent. The yield, which heavily influences consumer borrowing costs across the broader economy, has risen consecutively every day this week after ending the previous week at 3.95 percent.
In corporate developments, Advanced Micro Devices lost 1.3 percent following a report that the U.S. government drafted rules restricting AI chip shipments without its approval.
Conversely, telecommunications equipment provider Ciena dropped 12.88 percent, and StubHub retreated 12.39 percent. Costco Wholesale, which is scheduled to report its quarterly results after the market closes, fell 2.4 percent during regular trading hours.
On the economic calendar, Friday features a highly anticipated monthly jobs report, offering investors another read on the labor market's health.
U.S. stocks sink as Middle East tensions trigger oil price surge
