Harmonious melodies

More than 200 objects tracing the diverse evolution of musical instruments and their social role are on display at The Sound of Harmony, at the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum in Urumqi, and runs through to Sept 1. This is the third exhibition under a long-term collaboration between the Urumqi museum and the National Museum of China in Beijing, through which the latter tours curated artifact exhibitions to Xinjiang.

The previous two exhibitions were themed on archaic bronze ware and ancient mirrors. The current exhibition brings together instruments of historic importance, some of which are notable archaeological finds, such as the Jiahu bone flute, a crane bone flute found at a Neolithic site in Henan province.

The ongoing exhibition explores the evolving role of music and musical instruments in ancient times. Not only were they an essential part of the liyue (rituals and music) system to convey social etiquette and stabilize social orders, but they also helped promote self-cultivation among the elite, entertained the public, and stood in testimony to cultural exchanges along the ancient Silk Road.

10 am-6:30 pm, closed on Mondays. 581 Xibei Lu, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.0991-4552-826.