(Source: CGTN)

For centuries, legend had it that a bountiful treasure of gold and silver sat at the bottom of the Minjiang River, near Pengshan city in China's Sichuan province. It was said to belong to Zhang Xianzhong, the leader of a peasant uprising that occurred during the late Ming Dynasty. Now the legend has turned into reality, as a large-scale excavation unearthed more than 20,000 pieces of historical relics near the site.

The most distinguishing pieces are four gold and silver seals, with inscriptions recording the stories of Zhang and his family. Valuable furniture ornaments and jewellery were also dug up. Born in 1606, Zhang sought to establish his own dynasty as the Ming era was coming to an end. One local legend says that while fleeing their enemies, Zhang and his army dumped their treasures overboard, with the intention of coming back for it later. However, he died before he could retrieve it.

A decade ago, local farmers discovered a silver ingot while working on an irrigation project, leading to a massive treasure hunt. Finally, in late 2016, an official archaeological excavation was launched.