This fragment of an ancient Chinese woven silk (Han period, 206 BC-220 AD) was found in the Hun tumuli at Noin-Ula and is one of the oldest known examples of silk. It may have been an official gift or peace-offering to a Hun chief – the Huns presented a great threat to China at the time.

Against the originally purple ground are alternating mountains with trees, lingchih mushrooms, and birds. In ancient Chinese mythology, birds were associated with the sun, and lingchih mushrooms symbolised longevity.