Museum Updates
A pottery head carries a gentle smile from 5,000 years ago
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
China Bound
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Meet "Weixiaoxiao" (渭笑笑), a newly nicknamed 12.5 cm-tall human pottery mask from the Yangshao period (c. 5,000-3,000 BC). "Wei" (渭) marks its discovery at the Jiangjia site in Weinan city, Shaanxi province, while "Xiaoxiao" (笑笑) captures its soft crescent eyes and naturally upturned lips – a gentle, timeless smile. The play on words between "Weinan" (渭南) and "微笑" (smile) is very clever. It is the largest known head sculpture from the Yangshao period, possibly linked to ancient ritual worship.
Now on display at the Weinan Museum, this treasure from the Miaodigou Culture (4,005-2,780 BC) has captured countless hearts with its warm expression.
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