A total of 70 sets of jadeware are on display at Nantong Museum on Aug 28. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A jade exhibition opened at the Nantong Museum in Nantong, Jiangsu province on Aug 28, displaying 70 sets of jadeware spanning a history of nearly 5,000 years, from the Neolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

A number of jade artworks created by modern designers are also on display in accordance with the exhibition's tagline: "a dialogue between ancient and modern times".

Jade has been a part of Chinese culture for more than 9,000 years. In the Neolithic Age, it was used to worship gods, and during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC), it was made into sacrificial vessels for funerals.

However, it was not until the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220) that the rare stone began to be used as vessels and decorations in everyday life.

Most of the items at the exhibition date back to the Han Dynasty and are currently housed at the Xuzhou Museum. The exhibition will run until Nov 28.