The Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum officially opened to the public on May 14. A collection of 162 pieces of returned treasure found in the shipwreck “Batu Hitam” are accessible to the public for the first time at the museum.

The treasures were found at a huge cargo of ninth-century porcelain traded from China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) via an Arab dhow, which wrecked in Indonesia's Java sea.

The museum will open to the public for free between May 15 and 31. It will charge a 40 CNY/person entrance fee starting from June 1. It is open from 9:00 to 17:00 from every Tuesday to Sunday and closed on every Monday (except for national statutory holidays).

The museum is located at Caitaoyuan Village, Tongguan Residential Community, Wangcheng District, Changsha. It features the development history of ceramic culture of Changsha Tongguan Kiln during the Tang Dynasty (more than 1,200 years ago). Covering a total area of 11,436.5 sqm, it has 7 exhibition halls occupying 6,272 sqm.

The exhibited treasures found in the ship include celadon, white porcelain, white glazed green porcelain, and underglaze painted porcelain. Most are well-preserved, with good quality and high-level historical and cultural values. A life-size 1:1 replica of the shipwreck is on display at the museum.

Source: www.enghunan.gov.cn