From the skull fossils of ancient humans to gleaming bronze vessels, from charred grains of prehistoric rice to exquisite embroidered silks, relics unearthed along the Yangtze River offer a glimpse into the evolution of life and culture along one of the world's greatest rivers.

The Exhibition of the Yangtze River and Chinese Civilization, which opened in mid-June, invites visitors on a sweeping, millennia-spanning journey.

As part of the celebrations for this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day that highlights the country's efforts to preserve and rejuvenate China's cultural relics, the exhibition traces the evolution of Chinese civilization along the Yangtze River — from prehistoric settlements to imperial grandeur, and into modern connectivity, through more than 200 sets of rare cultural relics on display.