Although Longquan had fallen out of favor, it continued to thrive in folk art. The jade figurines on display, loaned by the British Museum, show how jade took on a new lease of life when applied to creative forms in Longquan.

And the global importance of Longquan was given a more modern context after the ancient production methods used to create celadon there were inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.

"As a worldwide cultural symbol, Longquan celadon was a witness to the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road," says Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum. "It can provide an important historical reference for the Belt and Road Initiative today, particularly in terms of how it helped to improve people-to-people connectivity and overcome cultural barriers."