Opening weekend of the special exhibition with lion dances, live performances by Hong Wang and NiNi, curator talks, instrument demonstrations, gallery tours and the documentary film 'Traveling with the Jinju'.
Unearthed Musical Masterpieces from the Southern Kingdoms of Ancient China opens at the Musical Instrument Museum on Friday, November 6, and the opening weekend runs through Sunday, November 8. It's a collaboration between the museum and the Hubei Provincial Museum, put together under the guidance of the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China. The exhibition pulls from archaeological finds of instruments buried with nobility in Hubei Province, tracing Chinese musical culture from the Neolithic period through to the court music of the Zeng and Chu states.
There are more than 70 objects on display, and the numbers are worth noting: over 40 are being shown in the United States for the first time, and ten are Grade One Cultural Relics—China's highest designation for national treasures, which rarely leave the country. Among them is the bo bell of Marquis Qiu of Zeng, dating from around 650 BCE, the largest bell in the largest known set from the Spring and Autumn period. There's also a painted xuangu drum from roughly 400-300 BCE that still holds its red and black geometric patterns. Audiovisual material from the Hubei Provincial Museum brings the music to life, and the show was named a 2026 'Project for the Bridge of Civilization: Premier Overseas Exhibitions of Chinese Cultural Relics.'
The opening weekend adds a layer of live programming to the galleries. Musician Hong Wang and America's Got Talent star NiNi perform, and curator Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu gives talks. There are instrument demonstrations, gallery tours, and screenings of the documentary Traveling with the Jinju. The exhibition itself stays open long after the weekend, running through September 5, 2027.
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Opening weekend is Friday, November 6, Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is included with paid museum entry and free for members. Tickets are $7 for ages 20 and up, $4 for ages 4-19, and free for ages 3 and under. The museum is at 4725 East Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix.
