'Edible Things' exhibition of aesthetics of daily life in ancient China opens in Beijing

Editor's Note: Rather than treating ancient artifacts as distant relics, "Edible Things — An Exhibition of Daily Aesthetics in Ancient China" invites viewers to rediscover their resonance with everyday life. From lacquered furniture to bamboo crafts, and from incense tables to traveling boxes, each piece reflects the harmony between form and function, between people and nature. Through thoughtful scenography and historical reinterpretation, "Edible Things" proposes that ancient design was never purely decorative — it was a lived language of balance, structure and quiet meaning.

The entrance to the "Edible Things" exhibition at China World Mall, Beijing, Aug. 1, 2025. Minimalist signage and natural textures guide visitors into the aesthetic world of ancient daily life. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]