This series vividly narrates the experiences of multiple cultural relics' loss and recovery, revealing their historical and artistic values. It not only helps young readers learn history, but also introduces international cooperation mechanisms and legal knowledge behind relic repatriation. A rare collection of quality books.
— Zheng Yan, Professor at Peking University School of Arts

Cultural relics are the imprints of civilizations, but civilizations require their ecological environments to survive. When relics lose their original contexts, their historical, artistic and scientific values all suffer losses. This series objectively and vividly presents to young readers the values of cultural relics, the pain of their loss, and the extraordinary journey of international cooperation that brings them home.
— Hang Kan, Professor and Dean of Peking University School of Archaeology and Museology, Director of Yungang Research Institute

★ If cultural relics could speak, they would cry out with one voice – "Take me home"!
★ First-person narrative combined with fairy-tale tone brings artifacts to life through childlike innocence, transforming cold historical objects into thrilling stories!
★ Six representative cultural relics, six legendary stories of their return journeys, presenting complete narratives from "origin to exile – overseas dispersion – circuitous repatriation – revival in prosperous times".
★ Collaborative creation by multiple renowned illustrators with strong visual storytelling that authentically recreates historical settings.
★ Premium bonus content: Virtual AI Digital Character + Audio Stories!
★ Book highlights:
Not rigid popular science, but literary storytelling;
Not dry explanation, but letting relics speak;
Not vague description, but detailed magnification;
Not single genre, but artistic panorama.
★ English translation samples available.

Complete set of 6 titles:
Animal Heads of The Old Summer Palace;The Lost Porcelain;Yongle Encyclopedia; Han Xizai's Night Banquet; The Embossment Warriors;The Luoyang Longmen Grottoes Arhats

Twelve animal heads – how did they journey through centuries from being looted to gradual homecoming?

Originally the core components of the hydraulic clock fountain at the Hall of Waterworks in Old Summer Palace's Western-style Building, these twelve zodiac animal heads were designed by missionary Giuseppe Castiglione serving at Qing imperial court. Merging Chinese and Western artistic essences, the bronze sculptures realistically depict rats, oxen, tigers, rabbits, dragons, snakes, horses, goats, monkeys, roosters, dogs and pigs. Each corresponding animal would spray water at its designated hour, with all twelve performing simultaneously at noon – a spectacular mechanical marvel. These masterpieces not only showcase Qing dynasty imperial grandeur and early Sino-Western cultural exchange, but represent rare artistic treasures from the "Garden of Gardens".

Geng Shuo
Associate Professor at Central Academy of Fine Arts' Institute of Humanities and Cultural Relics Archaeology, Council Member of Chinese Archaeological Society, PhD in Archaeology from Peking University
Author of academic works including "Stratified Images: Assembled Brick Paintings and Nan Dynasty Art"
Cultural Relics Guardian of CCTV's National Treasure series, expert advisor for Season 2, academic consultant for documentary "If Cultural Treasures Could Speak", artistic consultant for China-Britain co-production "Treasures of China"