Do you know what the earliest lawsuit filed against an official was about? Or when Western-style food entered into the Chinese life? You will find the answers at the Shanxi Treasured Bronze-ware Exhibition in the Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleun of the Nanyue King.

127 pieces of precious bronze-ware of varied kinds excavated in different places are on display at the exhibition. These items represent the best of ancient Chinese bronze-ware, including the well-known Shi Qiang Plate. At the bottom of the internal plate, there is an inscription of 284 Chinese characters covering the governance of seven emperors in the Zhou dynasty.

Zhen Yi, also known as the 'bronze code of laws' includes 157 characters, which tell of the earliest lawsuit court verdict record against an official.

About 60 of the pieces include tableware indicating the culinary habits of people who lived during the Western Zhou dynasty. Their style and shape show that western-styled cuisine already existed in China at that time.

Some other eye-catching bronze items are also on display. They include two exquisite ancient cooking pots and a concave bronze mirror that was used to make fire from sunlight.

Editor: Catherine