Stolen Chinese artifacts back where they belong

China welcomed back 41 looted cultural artifacts from the US which included ceramic figurines, bronze money trees and ceramic bases and vessels.

The artifacts span a wide range of categories, including pottery, jade, bronze, Buddhist statues, portrait bricks and Tibetan Buddhist relics.

Initial assessments by experts indicated that this batch of artifacts dates from the Neolithic period to the Qing Dynasty, according to China Central Television.

Rich in variety and craftsmanship, these items possess significant historical, artistic and scientific value and are classified as illegally exported Chinese cultural artifacts.

Last November, the National Cultural Heritage Administration was informed by its consulate in New York that the Manhattan District Attorney had seized 41 suspected looted Chinese artifacts.

The administration promptly initiated verification and collaborated closely with the Chinese Consulate General in New York and with the cooperation of the United States, the artifacts were returned to China.