Antiquities experts in Baotou closely inspect an ancient white porcelain jar. [Photo/Baotou news network]

A relic that is part of the collection, in Baotou Museum. [Photo/Baotou news network]

Fang Jinliang, a well-known local historical and cultural researcher in Baotou city – located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – on Sept 15 donated the bottom of an ancient white porcelain jar to the Baotou Museum.

The outer surface is semi-glazed and the fragment is understood to have been from a jar made in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). What makes it of special note to experts is that there are 21 Chinese characters written in ink on the bottom of the jar and its surrounding surface.

"These 21 characters can actually be said to contain a lot of information. At the least it proves that there were townships and villages under the Yuan Dynasty," said Zhang Haibin, director of the Baotou Museum.

"In addition, it also has some meaning for understanding the history of this kind of commodity trading at that time," Zhang added.

The personal donation is seen as being of great significance to the study of the history of the Baotou area during the Yuan Dynasty and will be exhibited at the Baotou Museum in the near future.