Unearthed Musical Masterpieces from the Southern Kingdoms of Ancient China Opening Weekend
Fri., Sat. & Sun., November 6, 7 & 8, 2026
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Included with paid museum admission; free for members
Tickets for Unearthed Musical Masterpieces are $7 for ages 20 and up, $4 for ages 4–19, and free for ages 3 and under.
Schedule of Activities
Explore one of the most sophisticated musical traditions of ancient China! Hear and see MIM’s new special exhibition brought to life through vibrant lion dances, live performances, illuminating lectures, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Supported by Phoenix Chinese Week and the Asia Center at ASU
Programming supported in part by the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Arizona Commission on the Arts
Space is limited; all activities are first come, first served.
Craft: Bianzhong
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Event Room 3
Create and decorate a set of bells inspired by ancient Chinese bianzhong bell sets.
Photo Booth
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
El Río
Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.
Gallery Tour: Musical Menagerie—Asia
9:30–10:15 a.m.
Asia Gallery
Tour the Asia Gallery and discover musical instruments and practices that symbolize animals, sound like animals, and communicate with animals. See how Japanese dragons, Indian peacocks, Mongolian horses, and other creatures play important roles in cultural histories.
Documentary Film: Traveling with the Jinju
11:00 a.m.–noon
Event Room 3
Enjoy a moving story about the devotion and resilience of a small traveling opera troupe as they perpetuate the ancestral Jinju opera tradition.
Dizi & Xiao Pop-Up Performance: Ancient Flutes Made New
12:30–12:45 p.m.
Central El Río
Experience the sounds of Chinese flutes in a performance by curator for Asia and Oceania Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu, featuring the ancient xun and chi and concluding with the lively sounds of the dizi.
Curator Talk: Resounding Ancient China
1:00–1:30 p.m.
Founders Room
Join curator for Asia and Oceania Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu and explore how the discovery of archaeological instruments in China’s Hubei Province has revealed one of the most sophisticated musical traditions of the ancient world—and how these unearthed instruments continue to inspire music today.
Guzheng & Qin Zither Performance: Resonances of Nature by Haiqiong Deng
2:15–3:00 p.m.
Main Courtyard
Hear performers Haiqiong Deng and Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu explore an enduring Chinese musical vision in which nature, human emotion, and the spirit world are deeply interconnected on the qin and guzheng zithers and xiao and dizi flutes, respectively.
Space is limited; all activities are first come, first served.
Craft: Bianzhong
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
South El Río
Create and decorate a set of bells inspired by ancient Chinese bianzhong bell sets.
Photo Booth
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
El Río
Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.
Gallery Tour: Musical Menagerie—Asia
9:30–10:15 a.m.
Asia Gallery
Tour the Asia Gallery and discover musical instruments and practices that symbolize animals, sound like animals, and communicate with animals. See how Japanese dragons, Indian peacocks, Mongolian horses, and other creatures play important roles in cultural histories.
Lion Dance Pop-Up Performance: Golden Phoenix Lion Dance
10:30–10:45 a.m.
Main Courtyard
Experience a lively, traditional Sar Ping–style performance from Golden Phoenix Lion Dance!
Exhibit Design Talk: Storytelling Through Exhibition Design—Unearthed Musical Masterpieces
11:00–11:30 a.m.
Founders Room
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this year’s special exhibition with senior exhibit designer Shelby Sickler.
Erhu Performance: Hong Wang
11:30 a.m.–noon
Main Courtyard
Enjoy a performance from an internationally renowned Chinese musician noted for his work on Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Legend of Korra, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Dizi & Xiao Pop-Up Performance: Ancient Flutes Made New
12:30–12:45 p.m.
Central El Río
Experience the sounds of Chinese flutes in a performance by curator for Asia and Oceania Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu, featuring the ancient xun and chi and concluding with the lively sounds of the dizi.
Curator Talk: Resounding Ancient China
1:00–1:30 p.m.
Founders Room
Join curator for Asia and Oceania Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu and explore how the discovery of archaeological instruments in China’s Hubei Province has revealed one of the most sophisticated musical traditions of the ancient world—and how these unearthed instruments continue to inspire music today.
Documentary Film: Traveling with the Jinju
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Event Room 3
Enjoy a moving story about the devotion and resilience of a small traveling opera troupe as they perpetuate the ancestral Jinju opera tradition.
Fusion Performance: NiNi
3:15–4:00 p.m.
Main Courtyard
Enjoy a unique and exciting performance from the America’s Got Talent star, who masterfully fuses the sounds of ancient Chinese instruments with modern rock and heavy metal.
Space is limited; all activities are first come, first served.
Craft: Bianzhong
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
South El Río
Create and decorate a set of bells inspired by ancient Chinese bianzhong bell sets.
Photo Booth
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
El Río
Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.
Lion Dance Pop-Up Performance: Golden Phoenix Lion Dance
9:15–9:30 a.m.
Main Courtyard
Experience a lively, traditional Sar Ping–style performance from Golden Phoenix Lion Dance!
Gallery Tour: Musical Menagerie—Asia
9:30–10:15 a.m.
Asia Gallery
Tour the Asia Gallery and discover musical instruments and practices that symbolize animals, sound like animals, and communicate with animals. See how Japanese dragons, Indian peacocks, Mongolian horses, and other creatures play important roles in cultural histories.
Exhibit Design Talk: Storytelling Through Exhibition Design—Unearthed Musical Masterpieces
11:00–11:30 a.m.
Founders Room
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this year’s special exhibition with senior exhibit designer Shelby Sickler.
Erhu Performance: Hong Wang
11:30 a.m.–noon
Main Courtyard
Enjoy a performance from an internationally renowned Chinese musician noted for his work on Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Legend of Korra, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Curator Talk: Resounding Ancient China
1:00–1:30 p.m.
Founders Room
Join curator for Asia and Oceania Eddie Chia-Hao Hsu and explore how the discovery of archaeological instruments in China’s Hubei Province has revealed one of the most sophisticated musical traditions of the ancient world—and how these unearthed instruments continue to inspire music today.
Documentary Film: Traveling with the Jinju
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Event Room 3
Enjoy a moving story about the devotion and resilience of a small traveling opera troupe as they perpetuate the ancestral Jinju opera tradition.
Chinese Zither Performance: Xia Jing
3:15–4:00 p.m.
Main Courtyard
Experience a living tradition of Chinese music through the guqin, metal-string guzheng, and modern guzheng zithers. Learn how the ancient instruments in MIM’s special exhibition connect to a musical legacy that endures today.
Weekend ExtrasAvailable for Purchase
Lunch at Café Allegro
Offered daily 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a menu of delicious global cuisine with fresh entrées, salads, soups, and grill items showcasing local produce and flavors from around the world.
Café Allegro Event Bar
Offered daily in the Main Courtyard noon–4:00 p.m.
Themed bites and beverages will be available for purchase.
Shop the Museum Store
In celebration of the opening of Unearthed Musical Masterpieces, the Museum Store features a selection of merchandise related to the special exhibition, including the new exhibition catalog.
During Opening Weekend, members save a total of 20% off most purchases in the store and online. Every purchase in the Museum Store and online supports MIM and its programs.
Programming supported in part by
City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture
