The mighty Yangtze River, long regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization, now takes center stage at the Changsha Museum.

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 of the Yangtze River and the Chinese Civilization opened on June 14.

With over 200 sets of rare cultural relics on display, this exhibition traces the evolution of Chinese civilization along the Yangtze River — from prehistoric settlements to imperial grandeur, and into modern connectivity.

Jointly hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Hunan government, the exhibition displays an unprecedented collaboration of 51 major cultural institutions, including the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China.