What happens when two thousand years of Han dynasty culture drifts over to the shores of Xianghu Lake? A new exhibition, The Splendour of Han Art: A Special Showcase of Treasures from the Yangling and Baling Mausoleums, has just opened at the Kuahuqiao Site Museum.

The show brings together 147 pieces from the Baling and Yangling burial sites, representing 134 distinct artifact groups—including 80 pieces from 75 groups that are classified as high-value cultural relics. But instead of the usual chronological walk-through, the exhibition takes a fresh approach: it uses colour as its narrative thread to paint a portrait of the dynasty’s golden age. Steel grey speaks to the solidity of state institutions, vermilion red warms with human touches, and gleaming gold reflects the empire’s towering wealth. Together, they capture the inclusive, benevolent spirit of the Wendi and Jingdi reigns (the Wen-Jing era), giving visitors a vivid walk through a time when modesty flourished, calm prevailed, and quiet prosperity took root.

Steel grey is the primal colour of Han brick and tile—the very fabric of dynastic order. On display are eaves tiles, hollow bricks, and a range of burial pottery, their robust forms bearing witness to the grand imperial mausoleum standards of the Western Han. Among them, lifelike ceramic oxen and sheep form a kind of “underground farm,” offering a clear window into the Han’s “agriculture-first” governing philosophy—and a telling glimpse of a society slowly regaining its footing after years of war.

In one gallery, robed and painted pottery figures stand with serene expressions, soft smiles playing at the corners of their mouths—earning them the tag “China’s most beautiful smiles.” Some of the clothed figures have lost their wooden arms and silk garments to time, leaving behind a hauntingly beautiful incompleteness that lets visitors get up close to the Han’s extraordinary sculptural craft.

The gilded bronze chariot fittings and gold-and-silver ornaments on show are intricate and sophisticated, with certain motifs reflecting steppe cultural influences—clear signs of intercultural exchange during the early Western Han, and a subtle precursor to the silk routes that would later link East and West.

The exhibition runs until 15 November 2026. If you’re curious about a taste of Han history, it’s well worth a visit.