Museums in central China's Hubei Province are stepping up preparations to showcase a remarkable collection of first-tier cultural relics at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco next month.

The exhibition, titled "Phoenix Kingdoms: the Last Splendors of China's Bronze Age", will unveil the historical legacy of two mysterious kingdoms, Zeng and Chu, which flourished during the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BC) along the middle course of the Yangzi River.
As this period represents the golden age of bronze craftsmanship, many of the selected antiquities are bronze artifacts unearthed from the tomb of the ruler of the empire.
Among them is an ancient wine cooler dating back over 2,500 years, a true gem of the museum's collection that is now being carefully removed from its display window in preparation for its journey overseas.
Transporting the hefty 170-kilogram bronze ware into a wooden box is a delicate process that requires a team of four men and a crane, taking over 40 minutes to complete.
Some of the exhibits are also long-hidden treasures, such as the sleeve unearthed from the Ma Shan No.1 tomb dating back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC), which is a prized possession of the Jingzhou Museum.
Due to their high sensitivity to environmental conditions, many of these rare textile artifacts are rarely seen in museum exhibitions, even in China.
Other carefully chosen textiles such as clothing and hats are also handled with utmost care before they are packed for transportation.
"We hope to promote Chu culture while ensuring the safety of the artifacts. The fact that they can reach an international audience is truly exciting for us," said Liu Lu, director of Preservation Department, Jingzhou Museum.
The exhibition is said to feature over 260 treasures, which will be the largest and most extensive Chinese relics exhibition in the U.S. in recent years.
Zhang Xiaoyun, director of Hubei Provincial Museum, hopes the exhibition will foster deeper understanding between the two nations.
"Cultural exchange is the most advantageous channel for promoting unity and understanding between nations. We hope that through such an exhibition, we can advance the exchange of Chinese and American cultures. This will enable audiences in the United States and around the world to gain a deeper, comprehensive understanding of Chinese culture, spanning from ancient to modern times and even into the future,"