China 'national treasure' exhibit opens in Tokyo  

中国历代王朝珍宝展在日举行 阿育王塔海外参展

纪念中日邦交正常化40周年特别展——“中国历代王朝珍宝展”9日在东京国立博物馆开幕，阿育王塔、金制假面、跪射俑等众多中国历朝珍贵文物参展。其中，被誉为“塔王”的阿育王塔为首次在海外展出。

Tokyo (CNS) – An exhibition of valuable Chinese artifacts opened Tuesday at the Tokyo National Museum to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.

A total of 168 items selected from 31 museums across China are on display, covering over 3,000 years of history from the Xia to the Song Dynasty.

The Qibao Ashoka Tower, unearthed in 2008 in Nanjing, is making its first overseas appearance at the exhibit, which will be open to the public until December 24.

After Tokyo, the show will tour to Kobe, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

To coincide with the event, Japan's national public broadcasting organization NHK has produced a three-episode documentary entitled "The Mystery of the Chinese civilization."