Over 260 artifacts to be exhibited at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco

A staff member checks a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen) 

An exhibition titled "Phoenix Kingdoms: The Last Splendor of China's Bronze Age" will be held from April to July at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

The exhibition will feature over 260 artifacts from five Chinese museums, showcasing the art of the ancient Chu and Zeng states. Many of the artifacts, which include bronze ware, lacquer ware and jade ware, have never been exhibited outside China before.

A staff member checks a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen)

Staff members check artifacts at Suizhou Museum in the city of Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A staff member packs an artifact at Jingzhou Museum in the city of Jingzhou, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members check an artifact at Jingzhou Museum in the city of Jingzhou, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A staff memebr transports an artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A staff member checks a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen)

A staff member checks a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack up artifacts for transportation at Jingzhou Museum in Jingzhou, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack an artifact at Suizhou Museum in the city of Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Suizhou Museum in the city of Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Staff members pack a bronze artifact at Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)