Technology offers journey into ancient world

"It is a distillation of the Western Han Dynasty's cosmology and view of life. We aim to enable audiences to look beyond the surface and engage more deeply with the conceptual world of early Chinese civilization, to glimpse the spiritual world of the people of that era and their artistic imaginations," Lyu says.

The Han Dynasty was an era of grand tomb construction. Nobles began building their tombs while they were still alive, making it one of the most significant undertakings of their lifetimes. Even though people knew living forever was just a fantasy, their strong belief in eternal life and an everlasting soul kept them determined, as they saw "death" as just another form of "life" and believed life continued in a different way.

Since the excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tombs in the early 1970s, the rich relics found within have been exhibited both in and out of China, attracting large numbers of visitors. With the opening of the digital exhibition, Duan says that it is more convenient for the museum to hold exhibitions outside China without the complicated transportation of the actual relics. A global tour is currently being planned.

He adds that it will also help them to attract more young visitors. "We used the traditional way to exhibit our relics for years. It's time for us to change and employ the way adored by the younger generation," Duan says.