The Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site Museum in Central China's Henan Province Photo: VCG

The official opening of the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site Museum holds significant importance for both the exhibition and research of the history and culture of the Han (206BC-AD220) and Wei (220-265) dynasties, a staff member with the museum told the Global Times on Thursday.

Located in Luoyang, Central China's Henan Province, the museum officially opened to the public on Wednesday. 

Covering an area of approximately 14.6 hectares, the museum centers on the history and culture of the Han and Wei dynasties. Through the three major themes of the capital city system, ethnic integration, and global influence, it showcases over 1,300 precious cultural relics. The exhibition offers a panoramic presentation of the grandeur and significance of Luoyang during the Han-Wei periods - both as the eastern starting point of the Silk Road and the world's largest metropolis during the Wei, Jin (265-420), and Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589), according to a press release from the museum. 

Zhang Mengyu, a staff with the administration department of the museum, told the Global Times on Thursday that the museum provides a centralized and systematic platform for the display of historical relics and cultural artifacts from the Han and Wei dynasties.

It allows the public to gain a more intuitive and comprehensive understanding of the urban layout, architectural styles, and social life of that period. By breaking the abstractness of historical culture found only in books and legends, it brings history to life and enables people to experience it up close, Zhang noted. 

In terms of research, the museum integrates a vast collection of archaeological findings and historical records, offering scholars a rich array of research materials and a valuable site for field studies. It helps advance in-depth investigations into the political systems, economic development, and cultural exchanges of the Han and Wei dynasties, she said. 

Moreover, it promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, provides new clues and perspectives for unraveling historical mysteries of the era, and contributes to the further development of a more complete research framework on Han and Wei history and culture, Zhang added. 

Liu Shuguang, chairman of the Chinese Museums Association, said that the ancient city site is among the most well-preserved large-scale heritage sites in China, both above and below ground. As a city rich in historical and cultural legacy, Luoyang has leveraged the resources of its five ancient capital sites to build a grand, distinctive, and richly connoted system for the protection and utilization of cultural heritage, according to the People's Daily.

The site was not only the starting point for Chinese journeys westward, but also the longed-for destination of non-Han ethnic groups in the west. Through exchanges, mutual learning, and integration of diverse ethnic and regional cultures, the ancient city became a bridge and vital link connecting Eastern and Western civilizations, Liu said. 

Breaking away from the traditional chronological narrative of museums, this site offers visitors an immersive experience that fosters a "dialogue between past and present."

The museum's architecture itself is a tribute to Han and Wei civilization, aiming to immerse visitors in a dialogue between structure and history. Its design draws from the ritual concept of establishing a center and upholding order, with an overall layout that, when viewed from above, it resembles a miniature capital city, according to Zhang. 

In addition, the museum features two special exhibitions. One is a VR solo experience that offers visitors an immersive journey into the charm of Dunhuang culture. The other is "Digital Luoyang," a multimedia art installation that presents the history and landscape of Luoyang through innovative interactive formats and a multidimensional perspective, she said.