China has an ancient civilization with a very long history. Understanding it solely through the study of documents is clearly inadequate. A wealth of objects and remains has been preserved on China’s vast territory and underground; much of which has been collected and is exhibited in various kinds of museums. This raw material of history can, in a certain sense, be considered more valuable for our understanding of the past of China than documents and historical records. Among the 57 museums selected for this book, many have been designated as key protected cultural sites by China. Some have been included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage Sites.