Museum of stone tablets opens in NE China

The Shengjing museum of stone tablets opened to the public on Wednesday, one day before International Museum Day.

Located in the Huanggu District of Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, the museum covers more than 3,900 square meters (0.39 hectares) and houses 118 ancient stone tablets.

Previously erected in the Chang'an Temple at the time of its reconstruction, the oldest tablet on display was made in 1487, more than 500 years ago. It explains the history of the temple.

The inscription also indicated the titles of the ancestors of Cao Xueqin, author of the classic novel "Dream of the Red Chamber."

"It provides important evidence for studying the writer's family background," said Zhang Shufan, director of the Shenyang research center of cultural relics protection.

The museum also collected more than 200 pieces of broken tablets. "These tablets together give visitors an overall picture of the history, geography, trade development, religion and society of Shenyang," he said.