Chinese sculpture has its origins in the Xia Dynasty (21st-16th century BC). During the Qin Dynasty, lifelike terracotta burial figures of soldiers and horses were created for the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the First Qin Emperor. The discovery and excavation of thousands of these figures from the Emperor's tomb in Xi'an shook the world, and they were hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by foreign archeologists.

China's Four Great Grottos -- the Mogao and Maijishan Grottos at Dunt1uang in Northwest China's Gansu Province, the Yungang Grottos at Datong in North China's Shanxi Province, and the Longmen Grottos at Luoyang in Central China's Henan Province -- are storehouses of ancient Chinese art, and treasures belonging to the entire world. Of these sites, the Mogao Grottos are the most ancient and contain the most magnificent cliff paintings and sculptures.

The ancestors of the Chinese people were gifted in both song and dance. Musical instruments have existed in China since remote antiquity. Ancient historical documents generally trace the history of Chinese music back to the time of the legendary Yellow Emperor, 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.

A set of sixty-four cast bronze bells, made in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period, has been discovered in Central China's Hubei Province. Each bell produces two notes, with the set covering a range of over five octaves. A wide range of classical and modem music, including symphonic works by Beethoven, can be performed on the set, which is tuned to a diatonic scale in the key of C major. The bells have a beautiful tone, harmonious and pleasing to the ear. The fact that such a musical instrument was created in China 2,400 years ago is truly a miracle in the history of world music.

China has numerous exquisite traditional arts and crafts. Among the most famous are carving and metalwork, embroidery and painting, ceramics and porcelain, and cloisonné (a kind of finish) enamel inlay. Bamboo furniture, woven bamboo and grass objects, paper cuts, lanterns, kites, and toys are popular traditional craft items, while Chinese jade and ivory ornaments, cloisonné, and embroidery are treasured by people all over the world.

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