Small Museum, Vast World: Mingzhu Ancient Ceramics Specimen Museum

As the navigation cursor disappeared, I passed through the city's high-rise buildings and got lost among the residential houses. The car parked casually on the side of the alley. The sun was shining brightly. The hanging plaque reflected the dazzling light, and the趟栊 door closed off the darkness of the old house. The old man at the door said this was the Mingzhu Ancient Ceramics Specimen Museum I was looking for, and I could park anywhere. This is probably the smallest museum I've ever seen. The simple building, the narrow entrance hall, and the small courtyard of several hundred square meters isolate the hustle and bustle of the world. In this world of ceramic fragments, I am the only visitor. The stories here need to be listened to with a quiet heart. Hundreds of ancient ceramic specimens from the Neolithic Age to the Republic of China are embedded in the mottled walls, laid out according to the historical context. Each fragment carries the mark of time: the simplicity of Eastern Han celadon, the lustrous glaze of the Tang and Song dynasties, and the complexity of Ming and Qing painted decorations. My fingertips brushed across the celadon fragments of the Shabian kiln from the Northern Song Dynasty, where the rough texture of the body and the cool glaze intertwined. In addition to the sunlight, there was also the temperature of history. Inside the glass cabinets are the finest ceramic fragments: Five Dynasties Longquan, Song Dynasty Jun kiln bowls, and Jizhou kiln green glaze. In this small room full of hidden treasures, I searched for traces of life across millennia through the body, glaze, patterns, designs, craftsmanship, and shapes. A small museum, a vast world. The gatekeeper recommended another exhibition hall of the owner, but after several turns, I couldn't find it, which was a little disappointing. Location: Next to Liyuan Xintiandi, Xihuan Road, Shawan, Panyu District Transportation: Self-driving or subway transfer to bus is recommended Tickets: Free Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays) Visit: Within a small space, you can experience thousands of years of porcelain charm. The exhibits in the courtyard are arranged in chronological order, from the Han Dynasty, Three Kingdoms, Two Jin Dynasties, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. Various fragments, fire marks, and kiln tools are displayed in the open air. Learning from ancient ceramic fragment specimens is a practical approach. It can provide us with information on the body, glaze, patterns, designs, craftsmanship, and shapes. By observing the fragments, we can also grasp some characteristics that cannot be seen when observing complete artifacts. Nearby: Shawan Ancient Town, Chisonsang Temple